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The UK Infected Blood Scandal: An Overview
The UK Infected Blood scandal, recorded as the greatest health scandal in NHS history, saw thousands of individuals infected with deadly viruses through contaminated blood treatment or blood products during the 1970s and 1980s. Over 6,000 people with haemophilia and other bleeding disorders were treated with factor concentrates containing HIV, hepatitis C and hepatitis B. Tragically, these products infected not only patients but, in some cases, their partners, as many were unaware of their own infections. Since then, over 3,000 individuals have died, including 380 children. .
Unknown Risks
Factor concentrate was heralded as a revolutionary treatment for bleeding disorders, offering individuals the ability to manage their conditions at home. However, this new treatment came with deadly risks that were unknown to the patient. The treatment was produced by pooling plasma from up to 40,000 donors, meaning a single contaminated sample could infect an entire batch. The situation was exacerbated when the UK began importing products from the United States, where donors often included high-risk populations such as prisoners and drug users.
Warnings about the risks were ignored by government officials, leading clinicians, and pharmaceutical companies, who failed to ensure patient safety or adequately inform the public. By the early 1980s, hepatitis cases were being reported across haemophilia centres in the UK. In 1983, international warnings confirmed the risks, but action came too late for many.
The Impact in Scotland
Scotland was heavily affected by the scandal, with approximately 550-600 people with bleeding disorders exposed to contaminated blood products. Of these, at least 70 were infected or co-infected with HIV, the majority of these having died. Additionally, over 3,000 individuals without bleeding disorders were infected with hepatitis C through blood transfusions, many unaware of their status for years. Groups like Haemophilia Scotland and the Scottish Infected Blood Forum have tirelessly campaigned for justice and support for affected families.
Ongoing Campaign for Justice
The Infected Blood Inquiry, announced in 2017, has shone a spotlight on the failures that allowed this disaster to occur. Since the Inquiry began, over 710 more infected or affected individuals have died, 140 of these confirmed deaths in Scotland. The establishment of the Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme in 2018 marked a significant milestone, offering vital support to victims and their families. With the publication of the Infected Blood Inquiry’s final report in May 2024, the community finally received some validation of the truth after decades of fighting. However, the campaign for accountability and adequate compensation for those infected and affected continues.
This disaster underscores the devastating consequences of neglect and the critical need for robust safeguards in public health. For thousands of families across the UK, the pain and suffering of this avoidable tragedy endures, demanding justice and systemic change to prevent future failures.