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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Penrose blood inquiry: Call to hear more witnesses | Penrose blood inquiry: Call to hear more witnesses |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| An inquiry into how hundreds of people were infected with hepatitis and HIV from NHS-supplied blood products has been told it should hear evidence from more witnesses. | An inquiry into how hundreds of people were infected with hepatitis and HIV from NHS-supplied blood products has been told it should hear evidence from more witnesses. |
| Solicitors representing many of the victims want a small number of experts to be called to a new hearing to give evidence on statistics. | Solicitors representing many of the victims want a small number of experts to be called to a new hearing to give evidence on statistics. |
| The inquiry, led by Lord Penrose, has already taken almost four years. | The inquiry, led by Lord Penrose, has already taken almost four years. |
| The judge will give a written decision on the witness call in due course. | |
| The inquiry was set up by the Scottish government following a long campaign. | The inquiry was set up by the Scottish government following a long campaign. |
| 'Crucial evidence' | |
| Lord Penrose has been examining how people received contaminated blood in the 1970s and 1980s. | Lord Penrose has been examining how people received contaminated blood in the 1970s and 1980s. |
| Hundreds of people in Scotland are thought to have been exposed to infection, although experts giving evidence to the inquiry have differed in their estimates of the number infected. | |
| Although 160 victims submitted statements when the inquiry was announced, Lord Penrose only allowed 20 to give evidence. | Although 160 victims submitted statements when the inquiry was announced, Lord Penrose only allowed 20 to give evidence. |
| Those who have been at the centre of Scottish campaigns for justice said this meant crucial evidence from doctors and the state had gone unchallenged. | Those who have been at the centre of Scottish campaigns for justice said this meant crucial evidence from doctors and the state had gone unchallenged. |
| Patrick McGuire, of Thompsons Solicitors, which represents a number of people affected by the infected blood, said it was important to establish the scale of the tragedy. | |
| But he said he feared the inquiry would stop short of producing a definitive figure relating to the number of people infected. | |
| Mr McGuire added: "Over the course of many years, countless people, including victims, campaigners and legal teams have worked tirelessly to ensure this inquiry served its purpose. | |
| "It seems that at this final but vital hurdle all hopes of achieving the answers these victims so badly need could be diminished. | |
| "There appears to be a lack of appetite to go the extra distance to achieve the desired results, and if that is the case then this will come as a devastating blow to the victims and their families." | |
| Lord Penrose's final report is expected next year. | Lord Penrose's final report is expected next year. |