A Wills newsletter

 Mail on Sunday 27.12.20  “INFECTED BLOOD ‘ONE OF THE UK’S BIGGEST SCANDALS’”

The contaminated blood scandal which infected tens of 1,000s of NHS patients with hepatitis C & HIV will be a disaster bigger than Hillsborough, says Dame Denise Platt, a General Medical Council board member.  She likened it to the 1989 stadium crush that killed 96 people.  Her comments were disclosed in internal emails at the GMC which is co-ordinating doctors’ submissions to the blood scandal Inquiry.   Over 2,400 people with haemophilia died after being given a clotting agent - “Factor 8”, which was infected with deadly viruses hepatitis C & HIV in 1970s & 1980s.  Campaigners claim documents that would reveal the true scale of the medical blunders have been destroyed.  Her comments emerged in an email sent to colleagues by Thomas Jones, GMC’s head of regulation policy, & obtained under Freedom of Information laws.  Jason Evans of “Factor 8” campaign group said “For decades governments of all stripes have attempted to play down the scandal hoping it will go away.”  The Inquiry which began in 2018, is expected to conclude in late 2021.

(My comment:  Edward Priestley of Yorkshire is not a haemophiliac but caught incurable hepatitis C from infected NHS blood transfusions in 1986, which ruined his health & career.  The UK Dept of Health bought cheap blood from USA drug addicts, prisoners & sex workers & the blood was not screened or heat-treated.   Edward suffered greatly, but manages to survive by avoiding toxic chemicals such as fluoride, & eating organic to avoid pesticides.)  Ann