1. Overview and Recommendations

Summary
Overview
Lessons to be Learned
Recommendations
List of Chapters

1.1 Summary
Patients have received blood or blood products from the NHS since it began
in 1948. Many
of those treated with them, particularly between 1970 and 1998, died or
suffered miserably,
and many continue to suffer. This was not as a direct result of the
underlying condition or
illness that took them to the NHS in the first place, but as a result of the
treatment itself.

This would be catastrophic enough if they were the only victims. But the
treatment has
caused others to suffer too – partners, family, children, friends – some by
being themselves
infected, some by having to watch loved ones die, some by having to give
their lives to
caring; and almost every one of them, infected and affected, suffering in
almost every aspect
of their lives.

I have to report a catalogue of failures which caused this to happen. Each
on its own is
serious. Taken together they are a calamity. Lord Winston famously called
these events
“the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS”. I have to report
that it could largely,
though not entirely, have been avoided. And I have to report that it should
have been.

I have also to report systemic, collective and individual failures to deal
ethically, appropriately,
and quickly, with the risk of infections being transmitted in blood, with
the infections when
the risk materialised, and with the consequences for thousands of families.

There were around 4,000 to 6,000 people with bleeding disorders in the UK at
any one time.
Around 1,250 were infected with HIV. The best estimate is that this included
380 children.
Almost all infected with HIV were also infected with Hepatitis C and some
with Hepatitis
B and Hepatitis D as well. Three quarters of these 1,250 adults and children
have died. A
larger number still (between 2,400 and 5,000 people with bleeding disorders)
who were not
infected by HIV received blood products infected with one or more hepatitis
viruses, and
developed chronic Hepatitis C.

People who were infected by transfusions, rather than by blood products,
were infected in
even greater numbers. Between 80 and 100 were infected with HIV after a
blood transfusion.
Approximately 26,800 were infected with Hepatitis C after a blood
transfusion, often linked
with childbirth or surgery, but also from transfusions to treat thalassemia,
sickle disease,
or leukaemia, or tissue transfer. It has not been possible to estimate the
number of people
infected with chronic Hepatitis B due to limited data.

A significant number of people who received blood products and some who
received blood
transfusions have since been told that they are at an increased risk of
vCJD, and should
alert their medical practitioner or dentist prior to treatment. This in turn
has compromised
their access to that treatment.

The scale of what happened is horrifying. The most accurate estimate is that
more than
3,000 deaths are attributable to infected blood, blood products and tissue.

https://www.infectedbloodinquiry.org.uk/sites/default/files/Volume_1.pdf

On Sat, 08 Jun 2024 07:34:55 -0400, Infected Homosexual Blood...KILLS !
wrote:

> 1. Overview and Recommendations
>
> Summary Overview Lessons to be Learned Recommendations List of Chapters
>
> 1.1 Summary Patients have received blood or blood products from the NHS
> since it began in 1948. Many of those treated with them, particularly
> between 1970 and 1998, died or suffered miserably,
> and many continue to suffer. This was not as a direct result of the
> underlying condition or illness that took them to the NHS in the first
> place, but as a result of the treatment itself.
>
> This would be catastrophic enough if they were the only victims. But the
> treatment has caused others to suffer too – partners, family, children,
> friends – some by being themselves infected, some by having to watch
> loved ones die, some by having to give their lives to caring; and almost
> every one of them, infected and affected, suffering in almost every
> aspect of their lives.
>
> I have to report a catalogue of failures which caused this to happen.
> Each on its own is serious. Taken together they are a calamity. Lord
> Winston famously called these events “the worst treatment disaster in
> the history of the NHS”. I have to report that it could largely,
> though not entirely, have been avoided. And I have to report that it
> should have been.
>
> I have also to report systemic, collective and individual failures to
> deal ethically, appropriately,
> and quickly, with the risk of infections being transmitted in blood,
> with the infections when the risk materialised, and with the
> consequences for thousands of families.
>
> There were around 4,000 to 6,000 people with bleeding disorders in the
> UK at any one time.
> Around 1,250 were infected with HIV. The best estimate is that this
> included 380 children.
> Almost all infected with HIV were also infected with Hepatitis C and
> some with Hepatitis B and Hepatitis D as well. Three quarters of these
> 1,250 adults and children have died. A larger number still (between
> 2,400 and 5,000 people with bleeding disorders) who were not infected by
> HIV received blood products infected with one or more hepatitis viruses,
> and developed chronic Hepatitis C.
>
> People who were infected by transfusions, rather than by blood products,
> were infected in even greater numbers. Between 80 and 100 were infected
> with HIV after a blood transfusion.
> Approximately 26,800 were infected with Hepatitis C after a blood
> transfusion, often linked with childbirth or surgery, but also from
> transfusions to treat thalassemia, sickle disease,
> or leukaemia, or tissue transfer. It has not been possible to estimate
> the number of people infected with chronic Hepatitis B due to limited
> data.
>
> A significant number of people who received blood products and some who
> received blood transfusions have since been told that they are at an
> increased risk of vCJD, and should alert their medical practitioner or
> dentist prior to treatment. This in turn has compromised their access to
> that treatment.
>
> The scale of what happened is horrifying. The most accurate estimate is
> that more than 3,000 deaths are attributable to infected blood, blood
> products and tissue.
>
> https://www.infectedbloodinquiry.org.uk/sites/default/files/Volume_1.pdf

+1