Haemophilia Society Welcomes The Launch Today Of The Archer Report Into Contaminated Blood And Blood Products

Main Category: Blood / Hematology
Article Date: 23 Feb 2009 - 5:00 PDT

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After more than twenty seven years of campaigning, victims of the contaminated blood disaster and the bereaved families of those who have died believe they will be a huge step nearer to achieving justice following publication of the report of RT Hon The Lord Archer of Sandwell QC's two- year Independent Public Inquiry into the disaster.

The background of the Inquiry is given in the attached statement on the day of it's appointment by the RT Hon The Lord Morris of Manchester AO QSO in February 2007.

Thus the Inquiry was aware that 4,670 people with haemophilia had been infected with the deadly viruses, including HIV and hepatitis C, by contaminated NHS blood products between the late 1970s and early 1980s; and that nearly 2,000 haemophilia patients had died since being infected. Lord Archer heard moving personal testimonials from our members of the devastation caused by the disaster and we are confident that his report will chart the way to practical new help to meet their still unmet needs.

Chief Executive of the Haemophilia Society commented: "Successive Governments have shamefully refused to fund a Public Inquiry and an independent inquiry held in public was the only way forward if the voices of those infected and the bereaved were ever to be heard. We are immensely grateful to Lord Archer and his inquiry team for their tireless endeavours to reveal the true depth of this disaster.

There are vital lessons to be learned in ensuring that decisions are made in an open and transparent way that fully involves patients. It is also clear that urgent action is needed in making new help available.

In particular the Government must create a National Haemophilia Committee, to ensure that patients can participate in all aspects of their treatment and care so that patient safety is never again compromised. Surviving victims also need free and full provision of healthcare in addition to access to insurance and compensation for those who have had their lives ruined.

We pay tribute to our President Lord Morris of Manchester, - the architect of the Inquiry- without whom the Inquiry would not have been possible and to whom the haemophilia community is immensely grateful. We look forward to working with him and the hundreds of parliamentarians from both sides of both Houses of Parliament, who have campaigned with him and the Society. Together we must make sure that the recommendations of the Archer Inquiry are both fully and urgently implemented."

Notes

- The Archer Inquiry Report and transcripts can be read on the Inquiry website at:- http://www.archercbbp.com

- Lord Morris of Manchester's Opening Statement

- The website of Scottish Public Inquiry that has been set up by the Scottish Government can be found here.

- The Haemophilia Society submissions to the Archer Inquiry and summaries of the transcripts can be found here.

- During the Archer Inquiry the Haemophilia Society has asked for a Government apology for the disaster and 7 distinct steps to be taken:-

1. Inclusive Care through the Creation of a Formal Body
2. Formal Participation in the Tender Committee
3. Access to Free Healthcare
4. Tracing, Testing and a full 'look back'.
5. Access to Insurance
6. Funding for the Haemophilia Society to help those affected.
7. Compensation

- In the 2007/8 parliament 220 MPs signed Early Day Motion 560 which said: That this House applauds the work of the ongoing independent public inquiry headed by the Rt. hon. Lord Archer of Sandwell QC into how over 4,800 haemophiliacs were infected with hepatitis C through contaminated NHS blood products, with 1,200 also infected with HIV; notes the inquiry has taken evidence from patients, bereaved dependents, former health ministers and other eminent witnesses; calls on the relevant Government departments and affiliated bodies to offer their full co-operation through providing all relevant material and witnesses requested by the inquiry; and further calls on the Government to respond positively to the inquiry.

The Haemophilia Society