Read a summary from this week at the inquiry

Written by Jessica Bomford, February 4, 2023

This week marked the end of hearings at the Infected Blood Inquiry, although its work continues with the final report expected in autumn 2023.

Closing the hearings, Sir Brian Langstaff, Chair of the inquiry, announced that he would be producing an interim report on the compensation framework sometime before Easter 2023. He pledged to work on the final report as quickly ‘as reasonable thoroughness permits’. You can view his closing statement here.

Announced in July 2017 by Prime Minister Theresa May, the inquiry has sat for 286 days and listened to the oral evidence from 370 witnesses. It has received 4,034 statements from infected and affected people. More than 100,000 documents have been disclosed to core participants, totalling 750,654 pages.

This final week of inquiry hearings has been spent listening to closing statements made on behalf of core participants. On the last day of the inquiry there was also a closing statement from Inquiry Counsel, Jenni Richards KC, with the last word going to Sir Brian, pictured.

Simon Bowie KC began the week, speaking on behalf of the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service and Scottish Regional Health Boards. He was followed by Emma Jones and Beatrice Morgan who gave a closing statement on behalf of Leigh Day clients, who include the Hepatitis C Trust as well as 297 core participants.

Lloyd Williams KC and Christian Howells spoke on behalf of Watkins & Gunn clients, who number 237 individual core participants as well as Haemophilia Wales, Haemophilia Northern Ireland, The Hepatitis B Positive Trust and the CJD Support Network.

Thompsons Solicitors’ clients, who include Haemophilia Scotland, the Scottish Infected Blood Forum as well as 293 core participants were represented by Jamie Dawson KC.

Finally, Sam Stein KC spoke on behalf of the 23 core participants represented by Milners. 

Click here for a summary of this week’s hearings.

Transcripts of inquiry evidence are available here and you can also watch the presentations on the inquiry’s YouTube channel. A weekly summary of previous hearings can be found here.

Follow the inquiry through the Haemophilia Society’s dedicated Twitter account or join our Facebook page for updates on news and information relating to the Infected Blood Inquiry.