Government urged to implement Archer recommendations

By Sunil Peck

Campaigners have welcomed the publication of an independent report into the circumstances surrounding the supply of contaminated blood to people with haemophilia, but say that its recommendations must be implemented by the government.

The supply of contaminated NHS blood products to people with haemophilia during the 1970s and 1980s led to Almost 5,000 people being infected with hepatitis C. At least 1,200 of them were also infected with HIV. More than 1,750 people subsequently died.

But successive governments have refused to fund a public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the supply of the contaminated NHS blood products.

Almost 20 years of campaigning spearheaded by Lord (Alf) Morris of Manchester (pictured), president of the Haemophilia Society and a former minister for disabled people, resulted in a privately funded inquiry chaired by Lord (Peter) Archer of Sandwell QC that began in February 2007.

In his report, Lord Archer said that rather than apportioning blame, he aimed to help those affected come to terms with the consequences of receiving contaminated blood. He also said that he hoped to suggest ways in which they could be compensated.

Lord Archer's inquiry said that it was "dismayed" at the time taken by ministers and scientists to become "fully alive to the dangers of Hepatitis C and HIV infections". It also criticised the "lethargic progress" towards self-sufficiency in blood products in England and Wales.

The UK's inability to manufacture enough blood products for people with haemophilia meant it relied heavily on imports from America.  These blood products were manufactured with donations from prisoners and drug addicts who were at a higher risk of carrying viruses.

The report concluded that the scale of the catastrophe would have been significantly reduce had self-sufficiency been achieved at an earlier date. Lord Archer says that it took England and Wales 13 years to achieve self-sufficiency while it took Ireland five years.

Lord Archer's report recommends compensation for people with haemophilia and members of their families who have given up work to care for them. It also recommends the issuing of cards entitling people with haemophilia to free prescription drugs, GP visits, counselling, physiotherapy, home nursing and support services.

Chris James, Chief Executive of the Haemophilia Society, said: "It is crucial that the Government implements Lord Archer’s findings as soon as possible.  Our members are still dying as a result of this terrible disaster and they deserve swift action."

Richard Waring has haemophilia and retired from his job as a college lecturer in 2002 after being infected with hepatitis C. Now aged 49, he says that his small pension barely enables him to provide for his wife and daughter. His wife left her job to look after him and has been unable to get back into work.

He welcomed Lord Archer's report and says that although compensation would make his life easier, it could never compensate for the fact that so many people with haemophilia had died after being infected with contaminated blood.

He gave evidence to Lord Archer's inquiry and agrees that it is imperative that the government implement the report's findings quickly.

Waring said: "I hope that it will not be a long drawn-out affair before the government reacts and that we get some sort of a fair deal."

The government is not obliged to implement Lord Archer's recommendations. but a Department of Health spokeswoman expressed sympathy for the people affected by the scandal and said that the government would study the findings of Lord Archer's report in detail.

She added: "Steps to safeguard blood products against HIV and hepatitis C have been in place since 1985. In addition, every reasonable step to minimise risks from blood transfusion has been taken, and robust screening measures are in place to protect patients."