Read a summary of this week’s inquiry evidence

Written by Jessica Bomford, July 23, 2021

This week the Infected Blood Inquiry has turned to a former civil servant and politician to examine political decision making in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Dr Diana Walford, who was a senior medical officer and later principal medical officer at the Department of Health and Social Security from 1979-1989, gave evidence over three days. She was followed by two days of evidence from Lord Simon Glenarthur, a junior health minister from 1983-85 who was responsible for blood and blood products. 

The evidence looked at the redevelopment of BPL Elstree, how government advice adapted to the emerging knowledge of AIDS and its transmission by blood and blood products and examined what was known by ministers during this period.

Click here for a summary of this week’s evidence. Transcripts of the evidence are available here. A weekly summary of all previous hearings can be found here.

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