Joint statement in response to the infected blood inquiry report publication from Mr David Crampsey, Executive Medical Director and Deputy Chief Executive at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust and Dr Ray Smith Chief Medical Officer at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust:
“We offer our profound apologies to anyone who may have received infected blood products at our hospitals between the 1970s and the early 1990s.
We acknowledge and fully accept that for those affected this was a catastrophic event, with devastating consequences. This did not just impact patients, but also their families, and the impact has lasted for decades. We recognise that no apology can bring back loved ones, or alleviate the distress and grief caused by the failures, but we are extremely sorry for any instances where patients did not receive the level of care they rightly expected from us.
We would like to stress that today, blood transfusions in the UK are extremely safe. All blood donors are screened at every donation and every donation is tested before it is sent to hospitals. Blood services and blood safety has been transformed, not only in terms of technological advances in testing but also in the way donors are recruited and checked they are safe to donate.
Together and alongside all other trusts in our region, we will carefully consider every recommendation of the report and, in partnership with patients and their families, will address them and learn from them.
If you have any queries about your care please contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Services (PALS) on the numbers below:
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – 01274 364810 or email patient.experience@bthft.nhs.uk
Airedale NHS Foundation Trust – 01535 294019 or email anhsft.patientadvice@nhs.net.
Infected Blood Inquiry Information and Support
This is an independent public statutory inquiry established to examine the circumstances in which men, women and children treated by national health services in the United Kingdom were given infected blood and infected blood products, in particular since 1970.
If you had a blood transfusion or blood products before 1996, there’s a chance you may have been given infected blood.
Today, all blood donated in the UK is screened using very rigorous safety standards and testing to protect both donors and patients.
Since screening was introduced, the risk of getting an infection from a blood transfusion or blood products is very low.
All blood donors are screened at every donation and every donation is tested before it is sent to hospitals. Blood services and blood safety has been transformed, not only in terms of technological advances in testing but also in the way donors are recruited and checked they are safe to donate.
Given the time that has elapsed since the last use of infected blood products, most of those who were directly affected have been identified and started appropriate treatment. However, there may be a small number of patients where this is not the case, and particularly where they are living with asymptomatic hepatitis C.
If you are concerned about a possible hepatitis C infection, you can book a home NHS test online. The tests are free and confidential. To receive a self-testing kit which can be quickly dispatched to your home visit hepctest.nhs.uk.
Useful support and advice
- NHS England have set up a new online resource for patients and the public to find help and support: https://nhs.uk/infected-blood-support
- Patients who want more details about the safety of blood from donations in England can find more information here: https://www.blood.co.uk/the-donation-process/further-information/your-safety/
- The Haemophilia Society website has detailed information about the Infected Blood Inquiry and links to helpful resources for support.
- NHS Blood and Transplant sets out how it has supported the Inquiry and has answers to common questions about the Infected Blood Inquiry.
- The Red Cross provides a confidential support service to people affected by telephoning: 0800 458 9473 or 020 3417 0280.
- The HBCDA (Haemophilia and Bleeding Disorders Counselling Association) charity offers online support and counselling specifically for people with bleeding disorders who have been infected through treatment for their bleeding disorder.
- Members of the public can directly order hepatitis C self-testing kits online: hepctest.nhs.uk.