Haemophilia Soceity Hopes Lords Debate Will Bring News On The Implementation Of The Archer Report, UK

Main Category: Blood / Hematology
Article Date: 24 Apr 2009 - 0:00 PDT

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A debate in the House of Lords today will call attention to the findings of the Archer Independent Public Inquiry into the contaminated blood disaster.

Lord Morris of Manchester (Labour), President of the All Party Parliamentary group on Haemophilia, has secured the debate, which will hear from Lord Archer of Sandwell about what Lord Robert Winston described as 'the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS.

The inquiry investigated the infection with HIV and hepatitis C of almost 5,000 people with haemophilia. Almost 2,000 people have since died as a result of these infections, which were contracted through NHS treatment. The Archer Inquiry found that the Government missed opportunities to prevent the contamination of the blood supply. It made a number of recommendations designed to prevent such a disaster from happening again, and to make life more comfortable for the victims.

In anticipation of the debate Chris James, Chief Executive of the Haemophilia Society has said:-

"We are extremely grateful to the RT Hon Lord Morris of Manchester for securing this vital debate. Many of our members gave extremely personal and painful evidence to the Independent Public Inquiry headed by The RT Hon The Lord Archer of Sandwell QC. After two years of detailed work the Archer Report makes a series of recommendations to strengthen the voice of patients and to properly compensate those affected by this disaster.

"To date the Government has made no response to the important report. We are extremely anxious to hear from the Government how they intend to address the serious issues raised in the Archer Report. Many of our members are still very ill and are dying as a result of these infections. A comprehensive response to the contaminated blood disaster is now long overdue and we hope the Government will understand its moral responsibility to act quickly."

-- Members scheduled to take part include:

- Lord Archer of Sandwell (Labour)
- Lord Corbett of Castle Vale (Labour); former spokesperson for disabled people's rights as an MP and former Director of Rehab UK
- Baroness Barker (Liberal Democrat); Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Health
- Baroness Morris of Bolton (Conservative); Opposition spokesperson for Health
- Baroness Thornton (Labour); Minister for health and equality

-- The Archer Report

-- Early Day Motion 963 which calls for the Archer Report recommendations to be implemented has already attracted 120 signatures

-- A petition on the Number 10 website has attracted the signatures of over 3,850 members of the public

Source
Haemophilia Society

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