LONDON — On Monday, the British government issued a formal apology for one of the nation’s most severe healthcare tragedies.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed regret on behalf of the state for the infected blood scandal, a prolonged failure he described as a “core national life issue” that should deeply unsettle the nation.
Between 1970 and 1991, thousands in the U.K. died after receiving unsafe blood products. Over 30,000 people were infected with HIV or hepatitis C due to these treatments.
A lengthy public inquiry concluded Monday, revealing that the disaster could have been largely prevented. The inquiry’s report harshly criticized the health service, government officials, and various ministers for their refusal to acknowledge or address their mistakes.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is set to approve a multi-billion pound compensation package for those affected by the scandal, described as the worst in the history of Britain’s National Health Service (NHS).
Sunak assured, “Whatever it costs to deliver this scheme we will pay it.”
In a somber address to the House of Commons, Sunak directly addressed victims and their families, offering a “wholehearted and unequivocal apology for this terrible injustice.”
Labour leader Keir Starmer acknowledged his party’s share of the blame and pledged to collaborate with the government to expedite compensation. He called it “one of the gravest injustices” in British history.
The final report of the inquiry found that the scandal resulted from a series of failures by the health service and successive governments. Many patients, including those with hemophilia, were treated with blood products later found to be contaminated.
By 2019, an estimated 2,900 people, including children, had died, and many more had fallen seriously ill. The report highlighted that patients were knowingly exposed to “unacceptable” infection risks and often were not informed of their infections following transfusions.
The inquiry accused the health service and successive governments of a “lack of candor” and suggested a cover-up response to the infections.
“Sometimes the truth was hidden by a treating clinician,” the report stated. “Sometimes it was hidden by an organization, the civil service, or politicians.”
Inquiry Chair Brian Langstaff, unveiling the report in Westminster, stated, “This disaster was not an accident. Infections happened because those in authority did not prioritize patient safety.” Langstaff received a standing ovation from victims and their families.
The report specifically criticized Ken Clarke, a Conservative politician who served as health secretary in the 1980s. Despite the Department of Health’s belief that HIV could be transmitted through blood, Clarke insisted there was “no conclusive proof.”
Langstaff also criticized current ministers for their slow response to compensating victims. Andy Evans of the Tainted Blood campaign group said victims had been “gaslit for generations,” but that the report marked an end to this denial and cover-up.
A crucial element of the scandal involved the use of Factor VIII to treat hemophiliacs. This treatment, made by pooling blood plasma from thousands of donors, was a breakthrough but posed significant risks as one contaminated sample could infect an entire batch. Health leaders and the government failed to consider these risks, leading to widespread infection.
Diana Johnson, a Labour MP, stated, “For decades this was not accepted by the government. There was a cover-up for 40 years.”
Following interim reports in 2022 and 2023, the government made partial compensation payments to around 4,000 survivors and bereaved partners. However, many affected individuals did not receive these payments. The government’s upcoming compensation package announcement on Tuesday is highly anticipated.
