UK government covered up infected-blood scandal which left victims exposed, report finds | BBC News

Authorities in the UK covered up the infected-blood scandal, knowingly exposing victims to unacceptable risks, a report has said.
The five-year investigation accused doctors, the government, and the NHS of letting patients catch HIV and hepatitis.
More than 30,000 people were infected, from 1970 to 1991, by contaminated blood products and transfusions, and about 3,000 have died.
Sir Brian Langstaff, who chaired the inquiry, said the scale of the scandal was "horrifying" and the authorities had been too slow to respond to the risks.
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#InfectedBloodScandal #BBCNews

[@tomhenry897]

No investigation No one fired No one jailed No compensation

[@JamJam0189]

In France people were arrested and in Japan they were arrested. In the UK we are now waiting...Why were the US donating blood from homeless and prisoners.

[@MommaKnowsBestest]

So just a news headline.

[@Leroy-co5os]

Then you wonder why people's don't trust people in power

[@kinngrimm]

It took 50 years to write a report? I assume to protect people who were in charge and failed the nation.

[@luzr6613]

No, it didn't take '50 years to write a report'... it took 43 years to find someone who thought it was important to write.

[@Karlos.xx.travels]

same old story , this is the UK all over.....corrupt criminal terrorists

[@kinngrimm]

@@luzr6613 Maybe a bit of both? Bottomline, same difference. People kept dying, no recognition or justice for them or their next of kin, while those in charge had their thumbs up their asses. What buffles me, even though i am not from the UK, that i heared only now about this for the first time. Was this also activly surpressed or is it just due to news cycle always generating new shit we are supposed to get enrage ourselves with?

[@bianhua5]

In 2022, the United States' export of blood products alone has created a value of US$43.1 billion, which is only US$8.5 billion less than semiconductors. The United States accounts for 5% of the world's population, exports 70% of the world's blood, and provides 94% of the world's paid plasma. . The main blood providers in the United States are actually private prisons and drug rehabilitation centers in the United States. Coupled with the current social and drug situation in the United States, one can imagine the quality of these blood products.

[@davidcritchley3509]

Those doing this retired on fat pensions and lived long and happy lives.

[@user-fs9yv4hl5f]

Now ask yourselves…what else are they not reporting ???

[@jeanmitchell5834]

Yes indeed whole system is corrupt

[@SMGAPR8]

You mean whats archived? Well newspapers for one!

[@ummahmed80]

And also question what they are reporting too, clearly trying to pull the wool over our eyes

[@user-fs9yv4hl5f]

@@SMGAPR8 That’s a fact. But, much of what goes on wasn’t even put in newspapers. Today’s technology makes it very easy to control the narrative before the public receives the information. Just look how many people on KZbin complain about how their comments are being censored and deleted…

[@jabezjedidiah1429]

The elephant in the room

[@helenbirdart]

As a medical practitioner, this is beyond egregious and the families, survivors and victims should be greatly compensated IMMEDIATELY!

[@jeanmitchell5834]

And also punishment meted out...even better keep away from BIG PHARMA AND ALL VACCINES

[@souxcasa]

Are you a medical practitioner in the NHS? Cos many of them have no souls

[@rosanna4685]

Well as a medical practioner can you please tell us all why GPs are telling patients with hepatitis B that it clears from the system and does not cause liver damage, when the truth of the matter is that it DOES cause liver damage and other serious health conditions and are still lying and trying to cover up for the NHS??

[@stevdaughtr6098]

How the hell is it reckoning if most of those people are dead, they said that they are admitting to it by waiting for everyone to die? My father saved his entire life so he could have a decent retirement only to find out. He was dying in his 40s. He saved he didn’t spend money he saved. He never missed work. He did everything he was supposed to do.F This!!! this is not confined to one country

[@ToBeAnnounced2024]

We were all decieved. Every normal citizen of every country was decieved. Now that many of us can't be decieved, they wish to kill us in ways that make us seem responsible. That, or they get someone else to kill you or just suicide yourself. Endure. Let's live to judge these people in the end of this hell world they abused.

[@siavashsafari3795]

This is too sad to comprehend

[@FerdiSchwarz]

It's a tragedy. Absolutely abominable.

[@digglerdudeuk]

But as usual, the real criminals get away with their crimes.

[@thewhatorwhy]

What is the BBC's role in covering this up for decades? Just like its silence about Julian Assange and Jimmy Savile till the last moment when it became public?

[@johnkariukimungai5211]

You are point on. They come out pretending to disclose what has already become public. Accomplices

[@thewhatorwhy]

@@johnkariukimungai5211 True.

[@Leroy-co5os]

Same thing with the jab

[@thewhatorwhy]

@@Leroy-co5os Yes.

[@Jazzwhale]

As with the P.O scandal, the companies behind the products that caused the damage will likely not be held to account. I feel these pharmaceutical companies should be foregrounded while this is still in the headlines. I didn't hear them mentioned much today.

[@JeffEbe-te2xs]

No one fired or jailed victim compensation denied Just like the PO scandal

[@forealg]

Democracy

[@JamJam0189]

In France people were arrested and in Japan they were arrested. In the UK we are now waiting...Why were the US donating blood from homeless and prisoners. Some people have received money already, like the Post Office.

[@JamJam0189]

@@forealg In France people were arrested and in Japan they were arrested. In the UK we are now waiting...Why were the US donating blood from homeless and prisoners. Some people have received money already, like the Post Office.

[@rubylicious1024]

​@@JamJam0189because they get money from it!? but just because someone are homeless, or in prison, doesn't mean that their blood would be contaminated.. and maybe they don't test it🤔 like before use, (if not an emergency) or when they get a bigger volume from other places!? but think that the question is more about, if they knew it was contaminated, and used it anyway!?

[@kendallbald]

I sometimes wonder why we even have a government in the first place

[@shauneden4229]

If we didn't our masters would have to bribe all of us.

[@keefrazak]

I wonder every day and have done for nearly 60 years, just a bunch of tossers!

[@seabreeze4559]

the illusion of order

[@nedenede]

Public Service employees who called themselves the Government.

[@dariusalexandru9536]

to keep workers in line

[@HangInAir]

In Japan, there was once a blood contamination incident called the "Green Cross Incident.'' It's similar to that.

[@meatlover9775]

Japanese government officially admitted and apologized in 1996.

[@billder2655]

I think the two incidents are connected, the infections from the UK scandal go back to the 70s, 80s and 90s. There was a similar scandal in France too.

[@JamJam0189]

In France people were arrested and in Japan they were arrested. In the UK we are now waiting...Why were the US donating blood from homeless and prisoners. Some people have received money already, like the Post Office.

[@bearwhite98]

once this happen in united states also around same time i think .....not sure on date

[@hayettebahamma6282]

What did you do that time? More details plz ... I'm hayet I'm a doctor

[@lesleysidhoum1779]

A national disgrace among others .

[@FerdiSchwarz]

And yet they have banned directed blood donation in the UK (i.e. if I want to give blood to my mother in advance of an operation I can't)...

[@ElenaShares]

It is very odd that they did not allow a close relative to do that. Wow.

[@ctlo4403]

Every place that looks great would have had very terrible events of great shame. The brits also did many good things like saving the lost boys in a flooded cave.

[@CRMcGee2]

In the UK, autologous blood donation, where a person donates blood for their own use, is possible. This is typically done before surgery and is considered the safest type of blood transfusion. However, preoperative autologous donation is not routinely available in the UK and is more common in parts of Europe and the US. Another method practiced is cell salvage, where blood is collected during surgery and retransfused back to the patient. Directed blood donations, where donations are made for a known individual, are generally not supported by UK Blood Services, except in rare circumstances.

[@madimoe8331]

​@@CRMcGee2USA here. I've never heard of that. Cool

[@CRMcGee2]

@@madimoe8331 Definitely a thing in the US reach out to the Red Cross, and they'll help you arrange it.

[@mhz90718]

The British government never ceases to exceed my expectations when it comes to lowering the bar on governance.

[@TheMockatiel]

Canada: was that a challenge? 🤡 🍁

[@mhz90718]

@@TheMockatiel people like you are the reason why this was swept under the rug for so long. Why solve your problems when you can deflect it away and pretend it never happened?

[@deadmemesrus1119]

It’s disgusting. The politicians in power haven’t represented the actual people for decades. They keep getting richer while we keep getting poorer and they’re more than happy to keep that going.

[@JH-lz4dh]

Absolutely HORRENDOUS 💔

[@maurreese]

My heart goes out to the victims and their loved ones 🙏🏿♥️

[@jennytravelmovie9682]

It's horrible ! There is such an irresponsible medical accident ! Legal responsibility must be pursued. The NHS must be reformed.

[@SMGAPR8]

Agree🙏

[@kookiebun470]

This happened 50 years ago though. In the 70’s the world did not even know about AIDS.

[@philgriffin8687]

Why did it take a official report to bring this to light. Whatever happend to investigative journalism ? rather than just buying stories from Reuters.

[@mkkiani-tech]

Shows the honesty of some in the NHS.

[@madimoe8331]

The ability to sue for slander.

[@philgriffin8687]

@@madimoe8331 Thats what editors and lawyers are for.

[@shauneden4229]

They also missed the last four years.

[@TiffanyTeaLeaves]

Budget cuts. Gotta pay for the RF to have tip top healthcare and clean blood for their surgeries

[@connormullen8823]

absolutely disgusting

[@elenabarkhina4457]

There should be a personal responsibility of those, who made wrong decisions now and then. Penalties, prison time and a national shame.

[@Snoring537]

The justice has finally served. It is truly a henious scandal, I feel sorry for those impacted families. How come no one is taking the responsibility?! Hopefully, those affected families can be compensated asap. Truly a horrific CRIME

[@chrisj2502]

50 years from no we might hear the truth about the recent pandemic.

[@geoffbirchall7552]

It’s a little like the C19 shot scandal which has been covered up for the last three and a half years!

[@leebroadway929]

And the death toll wii br far greater

[@seabreeze4559]

vox day covers it

[@stevdaughtr6098]

Somebody told me quickly if this happened in the United States as well my father is gone because he was infected with hepatitis C while in the service. The service took blame, said that they had done it while giving vaccines. If you serve during the time of Vietnam, please go get your blood test.

[@gfys756]

I'm sorry to hear about your father. My uncle served in Vietnam, and also got Hep C. The VA claimed it was from "drug use" and refused to help. I hope you can get some answers and closure.

[@SMGAPR8]

Admirable advice, and one that SHOULD be researched, the vaccinations have a lot to answer too, were blame was laid wrongfully! Thankyou for sharing, my heart goes out to you ❤️🙏

[@SMGAPR8]

​@@gfys756I think like a y services they trust too, what tbey ate administering is for good and not harmful, its difficult when all they had was monkeys for testing!

[@user-xf2vf9wn5j]

Yes. Please look up the story of Arthur Ashe.

[@seabreeze4559]

can't blame the Vs, people might wanna sue

[@melgrant7404]

How are the guilty ever going to be procescuted .so long ago.

[@HaHaBIah]

Government covers up something? Who would've guessed

[@luzr6613]

Just like people to do that, eh - whether in Govt or not.

[@Happy_Buddah_Bonsai_UK]

Absolutely disgusting 🤮

[@borntorepent]

Oh my world, how could this happen, mercy...

[@rickybobby8224]

Should have known to not trust the government with your healthcare.

[@NA-dg3jx]

Yet no one held to account, disgraceful.

[@imunfathomable]

Wtf are you doing UK.

[@faye_didac]

good question, we've been asking ourselves this for a few years now

[@waleed8530]

busy supporting genocidal Israelis.

[@inconceivabledark]

That's a very good question. If you ever find out the answer could you please the average UK citizen know

[@user-ry6jj6kx2s]

This happened in multiple countries around the same time, from blood sourced from US companies

[@crystalheart1186]

How cruel... I’m so sorry to the victims and their loved ones.

[@zenmetsuzogo4005]

If they are this gross and negligent under supposedly non emergency situations. Imagine what they would and could do under the emergency circumstances where they are protected under the law. Such as during the pandemic?

[@bozaregina8607]

It’s very sad! 💔 Justice for victims! 🙏🏻

[@dilyu2662]

Why is this not surprising that the govermlnemtn tried to cover up this?

[@norfolkpartisan5767]

Sound familiar??????

[@CanadianForPutin]

Cant bother with probiding quality healthcare to the citizens of the UK, but the UK government is always willing to send money from the UK taxpayer to foreign countries.. 😂

[@ericm3089]

I hope the victims get justice. Just heartbreaking.

[@markmuller7962]

And think of how much shame HIV brought too in the 70s and 80s due to homophobia

[@kookiebun470]

First reported case of HIV/AIDS was in 1981. The world did not know about AIDS in the 70’s.

[@13Liberty50]

How is that authoritarianism working for you now.

[@docmike8601]

This doesn't surprise me at all. In the UK and Ireland, a doctors' title and the prestige that goes along with it is the most important thing to them, not patients. Any error or unflattering event that happens is not only ignored and covered up, but often added prestige is heaped on the doctor. Coving up for your boss is necessary for advancement. Heaps of awards, additional titles, and praise are also bestowed on the greatest offenders. Not one country outside of former British colonies has adopted the British medical system and Royal Collages, that is not an oversight or coincidence, it is because it is a system that only benefits the doctors.

[@mariettestabel275]

France also....disgusting

[@MaiPoirot]

That's so absurd and cruel to even comprehend it is true! 😭 My heart goes out to them.

[@gamingwithjackclashroyalea5294]

The fact that the government tried to cover it up pisses me off. If they're trying to make people distrustful of the British government and the NHS they're doing a good bloody job.

[@Am-ih5nf]

I do not understand England.

[@sylezjusz]

This is because people weren't clapping for NHS hard enough. They need more flattery, veneration, adoration and a higher pedestal.

[@kookiebun470]

This happened in the 70’s. No one wants your flattery and clapping. Maybe the big bosses but don’t include the hardworking burned out staff.

[@user-ry6jj6kx2s]

This happened 70s, 80s & 90s. It wasn't just in the UK either

[@damlitproductions8126]

THE ONE WHOM PUSHED THE FIRST DOMINO MAY NOT BE WITH US, But their NAME & INSTITUTE, & those Representing Must Formally Be recognised ,with an Apology ,for the HISTORY BOOKS, Compensation Must Follow to the Victim's or family, MISTAKES LIKE THIS MUST NEVER BE AGAIN....

[@ArchDudeify]

Consider compensation and or claims if that's possible An apology is a good start

[@user-xf2vf9wn5j]

Get real. The politicians will set up a committee staffed by their mates, on about £100,000 a month, and then wait for the victims to die.

[@melissareece8656]

I cannot even wrap my mind around this...😢

[@rickebuschcatherine2729]

It's not etter than in France what a pity! Let's hope for justice for the patients !

[@janebubat]

It was really a massacre, unbelievable.

[@anderslunde861]

How is this even possible???!!!

[@highwayrider9165]

This is really very shameful act by govt negligence

[@godwino1466]

I can only imagine what is in the so-called humanitarian aid they send to some countries of the world.

[@ctlo4403]

Good for the victims today. Good of them to finally uncover this tragedy. Good of them to own the shame. Would the gov and medical criminals be fined and jailed for massive mental slaughter….

[@jeanmitchell5834]

Absolutely right

[@malikedmond8398]

I just heard this on the times radio...what the f is going on?

[@_ArsNova]

Been under a rock for the past 20 years?

[@joshuakampamba9061]

What a mess that was😢 I feel sorry for the innocent people who took the diseases .... I have compassion for them

[@vcsradio2805]

So what are you doing for the victims. Any compensation or any treatment

[@BeGioBijoux]

OMG THAT IS CRAAAAAZY

[@glajubutu]

The ones that are still alive. They need to pay all of their medical bills

[@derekwhite2929]

In my case it was a plasma transfusion and hcv!

[@jarussej9775]

Probably a mix of greed cowardice, and incompetence😟😟

[@SlimHandle]

Call out Ken Clarke. Mr portrayed as Tory Europe lover. Better than thou as portrayed by media over Brexit. He doesn't give a hoot about a crisis which happened under his foot in the 80s as health secretary. Mr negligent. Call him out before he goes from the planet due to his age. Don't let him get away with it.

[@shauneden4229]

Mr Bill Der Berg?

[@anthonydavid9307]

Australia still covering up their part.

[@captainbuggernut9565]

Well it's only taken 50 years to admit it. Still credit goes to Sunak who did sound genuine in his apology. The likelihood of criminal proceedings seems small though, given the time that has elapsed. Financial compensation won't replace those who have left us either. It is indeed a day of reckoning, I hope those in charge really do learn from this. I doubt it, mind.

[@Jafail4079]

What I believe is that the previous doctors did not realize how lethal and highly infectious the preciously unknowing disease was. The HIV had been newly emerged. But some doctors did not raise the alarm when they discovered the scandal and silenced themsevels

[@belon6203]

Unfortunately government officials, advisory bodies, some doctors, companies all knew that product was contaminated and still gave product to people. Apparently it was to save money. And then they covered it up and destroyed evidence.

[@Ghengiskhansmum]

Its a shame we haven't had any decent investigative journalists for the same amount of time. Not unlike the miners strike lies, Hillsborough lies, Iraq, Yemen, Windrush, Grenfell and all the public service scandals etc.

[@donga2000]

Nobody has been put in jail for this? And all the tax payer have to pay for this? What is wrong with this system?

[@jeanmitchell5834]

Boris was probably laughing HIS FAT HEAD OFF when he encouraged the stupid clapping..omg.

[@Nikarriddle0613]

This is a national tragedy...wth

[@lukemorris4065]

As a patient within the NHS on regular treatment. Just over the last 5 years the figures they report on as the required minimum or maximum wait time, treatment time etc are much much more forgiving. I was told for 7 years my bloods must be tested within 3 days of treatment as it was unsafe. Now it’s suddenly 3 weeks prior as they haven’t got enough chairs for the amount of patients under their care. This needs reforming immediatley, I have consultants complaining to me about the lack of care for cures and all the money is now spent on drugs contracts rather than research. Only cancer research remains given funding whilst every other condition is being left for permanent lifelong drug treatment for profit.

[@ToBeAnnounced2024]

My friend contracted hepatitis C after getting blood products in fla. 1994. Died in 2010. Terrible. Sorry for all who lost someone. Greed. Just like now, they have plasma donation centers on every corner in the poor neighborhoods. How much of that blood is tainted?

[@JelMain]

Thus far you only have a report. Sunak's failures to react combined with his failure to give details of compensation in his apology bode ill for full changein the future.

[@DigitalKnight]

Johnathan Pie is gonna have a field day

[@worldwanderer91]

This is how 28 Days Later will happen in real life

[@suranjanabasu498]

Horrible.

[@elisciachristie6984]

This is just sad and I hope that we come up with something even though nothing they will do will change those that are not here anymore and those that it affected. We have so many things going on now days and how this got by us is beyond me. The other sad part is many things hind within our systems and my not show any signs for many until it's to late. They should hold the government accountable especially if these individuals were doing check ups. Mind you not all have stayed over there either and have moved all around the world. I mean this is from the 70"s to the 90"s. How did they come up with the number 1500?

[@BarbaraWaterfall-ob4zv]

Horrific

[@kaiyang5426]

In China nobody is allowed to talk about such "scandals" with public health issues though.... So sad...

[@Midori-zt7qe]

这也能骂到中国头上？至少中国发现美国血液污染之后，早在1985年就禁止了进口血液，不像你们政府掩盖事实，宁愿害死人民。

[@UAdair]

All the medical staff involved should be put on the front pages of all national newspapers.

[@robert-skibelo]

What a useless dumbed-down report. I don't want superficial, touchy-feeling blather, I want to know what the report's conclusions were. How about reading some of that out? How about some actual objective substance?

[@luzr6613]

They've 'reported'; they've given you a brief summary... it's not their responsibility to read the thing out to you. You want to understand the Report - get a copy and read it.

[@peterfoy6045]

720p quality ?

[@georgeroybooth3335]

Surely governments will have set aside compensation money ??

[@drbennyboombatz9195]

How's it take 7 effin years to come up with the report!?!?!

[@GrandSenator]

when it comes to investigation its never easy to cover the truth without evidence it can take months even years.

[@theTimHernandez]

Now start working on the 50 year COVID19 vax report.

[@danielhooper502]

This was known at the time

[@SereneSarai]

apology?

[@barneymagee3285]

Is history repeating itself…….?

[@user-ry6jj6kx2s]

This is about what happened in the 70s - 90s, it's not recent

[@user-mt3fy1jk7l]

What about those who suddenly dropped death ??? AZ ???

[@runabath]

Im over this and any bbc news Y is this on the news now and not before people r long and buried and no one will c or hear any justice peace to u

[@mercesletifer47]

How tf is such news coming out of the UK of all places?

[@user-vj4sn1hk3n]

Oh no😮

[@Cesarsanvicente]

DISGRACEFUL

[@JaneJones-lg3bd]

I wonder (she smirks sarcastically) what else they may have covered up .......? Hmmmmm.

[@Derekhave2024]

😢😢😢

[@davidcritchley3509]

How can we believe anything the state tells us?

[@bwilliamson3887]

Terrible NHS never fit for purpose. It doesn't work.

[@jonahansen]

I guess a disadvantage of Government centralized medicine and control.

[@sohrabamiri7917]

Where was the sources of the blood

[@zapfanzapfan]

Apparently not enough UK blood donors to meet the demand and so they bought from the US where donors are paid for their blood and so tend to be the, shall we say, less fortunate on the socioeconomic scale.

[@Paul-uo9sv]

Lawsuit