BAD BLOOD : The Infected Blood Scandal - 25th February 2021

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UTV (ITV Ireland) : BAD BLOOD - Thursday 25th February 2021

Up Close investigates the Infected Blood Scandal which saw thousands of patients dying after receiving contaminated blood products in the 1970's and 1980's.
This compelling and moving documentary speaks to Northern Ireland patients, families, lawyers, haemotologists and campaigners, challenging those right at the heart of government and the Health Service at that time, to get answers and justice for those affected.

In 2017, the Infected Blood Inquiry was finally ordered in London after massive pressure from patients, families and politicians and such is the scale of the inquiry, it is not envisaged to be completed until 2023.

UTV correspondent Gareth Wilkinson exclusively interviews Lynda Edgerton, speaking for the first time about the loss of her son, Russell. In the late 1970's, a new product called Factor VIII was developed that could be administered at home to treat his Haemophilia. Russell contracted HIV in 1985 aged just 18, after receiving this ‘game changer’ Factor VIII treatment for his Haemophilia.
Gareth also speaks to Paul Kirkpatrick. Both he and his older brother Desmond suffered from the most severe form of the condition and as children their lives revolved around hospital receiving treatment in the 1960's. Like Russell, both their lives were transformed by the 'wonder treatment' Factor VIII. However, Paul was to later find out that even early on in his treatment, his liver had been badly affected. He says, “the medical due diligence wasn’t what it should have been in those days.”
As demand outstripped supply in the UK for Factor VIII, the Government turned to the US for supplies. Shockingly, the blood from which it was made was later discovered to have been sourced from prisoners, drug users and sex workers.

However, US Factor VIII continued to be distributed to patients, despite the emerging risks. Documents reveal that doctors in the UK were warned of HIV and Hepatitis C. There were calls for all blood products made in the US to be withdrawn, when the first UK Haemophilic died of AIDS in 1983.
Patients and families are angry that the risks associated with imported Factor VIII were not made clear at the time. Paul Kirkpatrick was tested for HIV at the same time as Russell, and although that test was negative, he found out later he contracted Hepatitis C and became very ill. Paul had only been told in 2019 that he had been given HIV infected blood at that time.
Infected patients and their families are entitled to financial support, under a UK wide scheme introduced to coincide with the Inquiry.
Patients in Northern Ireland had been receiving up £14,000 less than those in England, Scotland and Wales.

Last August, Health Minister Robin Swann brought payments into line with the rest of the UK, He told UTV, “It was actually my first Ministerial direction to my civil servants as regards to that payment. Hopefully the inquiry will make a move that it is standardised and everybody receives the same recognition for the hurt that was done.”

Broadcast time : 9.00pm - Duration : 46.29

#InfectedBloodInquiry #ContaminatedBlood #Haemophilia #TaintedBlood #Hemophilia