Blood contamination inquiry chairman calls for evidence

Published on Thursday 25 June 2009 00:53

THE public inquiry into the infection of people with hepatitis C and HIV through contaminated blood in Scotland called for people to come forward with evidence.

The chairman of the independent inquiry, Lord Penrose, yesterday issued a public call for documents and witness statements relating to the issue.

The Penrose Inquiry was ordered by health secretary Nicola Sturgeon to look into the circumstances in which patients treated by the NHS in Scotland became infected with Hepatitis C and HIV through the use of blood or blood products.

Since he was appointed in January, Lord Penrose has been examining key documents going back over 30 years. He is now inviting all people and organisations who hold documents relevant to the inquiry's remit to come forward.

The inquiry team is also calling for patients who contracted hepatitis C and HIV through receiving blood and blood products, and their relatives, to provide statements.

Any witnesses will be asked to visit the inquiry team to give their statement to one of the members.

"Appropriate steps will be taken to ensure that a witness's personal details remain confidential," the inquiry team said.

Almost 4,700 patients were infected through contaminated blood transfusions across the UK during the 1970s and 1980s, and about 2,000 have died.

At the inquiry's opening session in March, Lord Penrose said that it would not be possible to find individuals or institutions legally liable, either in a criminal or civil sense

But he indicated that it was possible his report would include criticisms of "individuals, groups, agencies and institutions".

More information is available by visiting the inquiry's website at www.penroseinquiry.org.uk