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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Contaminated blood findings due | Contaminated blood findings due |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A privately-funded independent public inquiry into how contaminated NHS blood products were supplied to patients with haemophilia is due to be published. | A privately-funded independent public inquiry into how contaminated NHS blood products were supplied to patients with haemophilia is due to be published. |
| During the 1970s and early 1980s, nearly 5,000 people were exposed to hepatitis C and, of these, more than 1,200 were also infected with HIV. | |
| Almost 2,000 of those people have since died as a result. | Almost 2,000 of those people have since died as a result. |
| The inquiry, led by Lord Archer of Sandwell, is reporting its findings two years after originally scheduled. | |
| Surviving victims need free and full provision of healthcare Christopher James, Haemophilia Society | Surviving victims need free and full provision of healthcare Christopher James, Haemophilia Society |
| Christopher James, chief executive of the Haemophilia Society welcomed its publication. | Christopher James, chief executive of the Haemophilia Society welcomed its publication. |
| "After more than 27 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." | "After more than 27 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." |
| He added: "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. | He added: "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." | "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." |
| Paid donors | Paid donors |
| Haemophilia is a rare inherited bleeding disorder in which the blood does not clot normally. | Haemophilia is a rare inherited bleeding disorder in which the blood does not clot normally. |
| There is no cure, but the condition can be managed using a clotting chemical, known as factor VIII. | There is no cure, but the condition can be managed using a clotting chemical, known as factor VIII. |
| But in the early 1970s, patients were treated with blood products that came in a dry powder form which could then be reconstituted with water. | But in the early 1970s, patients were treated with blood products that came in a dry powder form which could then be reconstituted with water. |
| From 1973, the powder was made commercially in the US, and the blood it used often came from patients who had been paid for giving their blood. | From 1973, the powder was made commercially in the US, and the blood it used often came from patients who had been paid for giving their blood. |
| Between then and the mid-1980s, 4,670 people in the UK with haemophilia were exposed to hepatitis C. | Between then and the mid-1980s, 4,670 people in the UK with haemophilia were exposed to hepatitis C. |
| In 1981, it was discovered that some plasma was infected with HIV. | In 1981, it was discovered that some plasma was infected with HIV. |
| Since the mid-1980s, plasma products have been heat-treated to kill viruses. | Since the mid-1980s, plasma products have been heat-treated to kill viruses. |
| 'Help the afflicted' | 'Help the afflicted' |
| Successive governments have refused to admit any fault or hold an inquiry. | Successive governments have refused to admit any fault or hold an inquiry. |
| There have been payments to people infected with HIV, and in 2004, the Skipton Fund was set up for people infected with hepatitis C, but no payments were made to those who died before 2003. | There have been payments to people infected with HIV, and in 2004, the Skipton Fund was set up for people infected with hepatitis C, but no payments were made to those who died before 2003. |
| When the inquiry was launched, Lord Archer said: "The purpose of this inquiry is to unravel the facts, so far as we are able. and to point to lessons that may be learnt." | When the inquiry was launched, Lord Archer said: "The purpose of this inquiry is to unravel the facts, so far as we are able. and to point to lessons that may be learnt." |
| He added: "We trust it will also help those afflicted and bereaved to come to terms with the tragedy; knowing much more of how it came about." | He added: "We trust it will also help those afflicted and bereaved to come to terms with the tragedy; knowing much more of how it came about." |
| Many patients, bereaved relatives and medical experts gave evidence to the inquiry, as did former health ministers Lord Owen and Lord Jenkin. | Many patients, bereaved relatives and medical experts gave evidence to the inquiry, as did former health ministers Lord Owen and Lord Jenkin. |
| Publication of the report follows the news last week of the first case of vCJD in a patient with haemophilia - discovered during a post-mortem after the patient died from other causes. | Publication of the report follows the news last week of the first case of vCJD in a patient with haemophilia - discovered during a post-mortem after the patient died from other causes. |
| Up to 4,000 haemophilia sufferers have been warned they could be at risk of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. | Up to 4,000 haemophilia sufferers have been warned they could be at risk of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. |