Read a summary of this week’s inquiry evidence

Written by Jessica Bomford, November 19, 2022

This was the last week of oral evidence at the Infected Blood Inquiry.

A total of 16 expert witnesses gave evidence on a range of subjects, including haemovigilence, standards of training for doctors and GPs, finding people undiagnosed with hepatitis C, standards within the civil service across the UK and monitoring the safety of licensed medicines.

The inquiry team plans to publish a number of reports within the next month on issues including the use of factor IX, the global picture of contaminated blood, inquests, additional statistics and health economics.

It was announced that anyone wanting to submit a witness statement about their own experiences must do this before 31 December 2022.

The inquiry’s final hearings will be submissions mainly by lawyers on behalf of core participants on the recommendations and findings of fact that Inquiry Chair, Sir Brian Langstaff, should include in his final report, which is expected in Summer 2023. These begin on 17 January with the inquiry’s final day scheduled for 3 February 2023.

Concluding the hearings for 2022, Sir Brian acknowledged the length of time it has taken to get to this point, telling participants: ‘Time brings its own challenges and its losses. Each one matters, deeply. It is a tribute to the sense of community, resilience and patience that you have continued individually and collectively to support one another and to give this inquiry the support it needs to complete its task.’

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

Transcripts of inquiry evidence are available here. 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 daily updates on evidence when the inquiry is sitting.