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| Contaminated blood cases 'tragic' | Contaminated blood cases 'tragic' |
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| A public inquiry has condemned the failings that led to thousands of people being infected with HIV and hepatitis C from contaminated blood. | A public inquiry has condemned the failings that led to thousands of people being infected with HIV and hepatitis C from contaminated blood. |
| The independent privately-funded inquiry called the use of contaminated blood products to treat patients with haemophilia a "horrific human tragedy". | The independent privately-funded inquiry called the use of contaminated blood products to treat patients with haemophilia a "horrific human tragedy". |
| The report suggested UK authorities had been slow to react, but accepted it was hard to directly apportion blame. | The report suggested UK authorities had been slow to react, but accepted it was hard to directly apportion blame. |
| In the 1970s and 1980s, nearly 5,000 people were exposed to hepatitis C. | In the 1970s and 1980s, nearly 5,000 people were exposed to hepatitis C. |
| Of these, more than 1,200 were also infected with HIV. | 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. |
| What we need now is to see some very swift action from the government Sue ThreakallTainted Blood | What we need now is to see some very swift action from the government Sue ThreakallTainted Blood |
| Despite the death toll, successive governments have refused to admit any fault or hold an investigation, forcing this public inquiry to rely on private donors. | Despite the death toll, successive governments have refused to admit any fault or hold an investigation, forcing this public inquiry to rely on private 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. | There is no cure, but the condition can be managed using a clotting chemical. |
| From 1973, some blood products containing such treatment were imported from the US as UK suppliers could not keep pace with demand. | From 1973, some blood products containing such treatment were imported from the US as UK suppliers could not keep pace with demand. |
| The two-year inquiry, led by Lord Archer of Sandwell, said the main responsibility for the tragedy rested with the US suppliers of the contaminated blood products. | The two-year inquiry, led by Lord Archer of Sandwell, said the main responsibility for the tragedy rested with the US suppliers of the contaminated blood products. |
| He said commercial interests appeared to have been given a higher priority than patient safety. | He said commercial interests appeared to have been given a higher priority than patient safety. |
| Viruses | Viruses |
| Much of the blood had come from down-at-heel "skid row" donors, such as prison inmates, whose risk of hepatitis C and HIV was much higher than that of the general population. | Much of the blood had come from down-at-heel "skid row" donors, such as prison inmates, whose risk of hepatitis C and HIV was much higher than that of the general population. |
| Blood products began to be heat-treated from the mid 1980s to kill viruses. | Blood products began to be heat-treated from the mid 1980s to kill viruses. |
| However, Lord Archer also criticised the government at the time for being slow to become self-sufficient with blood products - it would have been unlikely for UK-sourced treatment to come from such a population of donors. | However, Lord Archer also criticised the government at the time for being slow to become self-sufficient with blood products - it would have been unlikely for UK-sourced treatment to come from such a population of donors. |
| He said there was "lethargic" progress, with England and Wales taking 13 years compared to just five in Ireland. | He said there was "lethargic" progress, with England and Wales taking 13 years compared to just five in Ireland. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| But he added: "It is a bit late to say who is to blame when little can be done about it. | But he added: "It is a bit late to say who is to blame when little can be done about it. |
| "What the government ought to address is the needs of people now." | "What the government ought to address is the needs of people now." |
| To do this, he recommended a government-administered and backed compensation scheme for those who were affected - money currently available to victims comes from charitable trusts. | To do this, he recommended a government-administered and backed compensation scheme for those who were affected - money currently available to victims comes from charitable trusts. |
| He also said a public inquiry should have been held earlier. | He also said a public inquiry should have been held earlier. |
| He said some witnesses were unable to fully recollect what had happened because of the passage of time. | He said some witnesses were unable to fully recollect what had happened because of the passage of time. |
| And Lord Archer lamented the decision of the Department of Health not to give evidence publicly - there were several private meetings with officials - and with-hold certain documents. | And Lord Archer lamented the decision of the Department of Health not to give evidence publicly - there were several private meetings with officials - and with-hold certain documents. |
| "It is hard to say what we could have found out." | "It is hard to say what we could have found out." |
| 'Swift action' | 'Swift action' |
| Sue Threakall, from the campaign group from Tainted Blood whose husband died after being given contaminated blood, welcomed the report. | Sue Threakall, from the campaign group from Tainted Blood whose husband died after being given contaminated blood, welcomed the report. |
| She said: "What we need now is to see some very swift action from the government. | She said: "What we need now is to see some very swift action from the government. |
| "All we have ever wanted is the truth, and some justice." | "All we have ever wanted is the truth, and some justice." |
| Christopher James, chief executive of the Haemophilia Society, agreed. | Christopher James, chief executive of the Haemophilia Society, agreed. |
| He said the way victims had been treated to date had not been right and he urged ministers to make up for this. | He said the way victims had been treated to date had not been right and he urged ministers to make up for this. |
| "We've said for some time that the current level of payments and the method of payment are inappropriate and not fit for purpose. | "We've said for some time that the current level of payments and the method of payment are inappropriate and not fit for purpose. |
| "It is now up to the government to look at the report. | "It is now up to the government to look at the report. |
| "We want them to act on it urgently and significantly." | "We want them to act on it urgently and significantly." |
| FROM BBC RADIO 5 LIVE More from BBC Radio 5 live | FROM BBC RADIO 5 LIVE More from BBC Radio 5 live |
| A Department of Health spokesman said: "We have great sympathy for the patients and families affected and will study the findings of Lord Archer's report in detail." | A Department of Health spokesman said: "We have great sympathy for the patients and families affected and will study the findings of Lord Archer's report in detail." |
| He added there was now "robust screening" of blood and blood products taking place. | He added there was now "robust screening" of blood and blood products taking place. |
| 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. |
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