Inquiry Updates

Extra week of hearings, week beginning 24 July 2023, London (live)

The Infected Blood Inquiry unexpectedly reconvened its public hearings to look at the issue of compensation, following the publication of its Second Interim Report on compensation in April 2023.

The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak was called to give evidence, along with three current cabinet ministers and a senior civil servant.

First to give evidence was former Paymaster General and Leader of the House, Penny Mordaunt MP, followed by the current Paymaster General, Jeremy Quin MP.

When Mr Sunak gave evidence, he was asked about the government’s progress towards compensation. Mr Sunak replied that there would not be a response to the inquiry’s recommendations on compensation until after its final report is published, much to the disappointment of everyone watching.

Also giving evidence was Shona Dunn, a senior civil servant in the Department for Health and Social Care and the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt MP, who previously gave evidence to the inquiry last year when he was not a government minister.

Final week of inquiry hearings, week beginning 30 January 2023, London (live)

This final week of inquiry hearings has been spent listening to closing statements made on behalf of core participants over four days. 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 Langstaff, Chair of the inquiry, 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 and 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.

Week beginning 23 January 2023, London (live)

This penultimate week of the Infected Blood Inquiry has been spent listening to closing statements made on behalf of core participants over three days of hearings.

Charlie Cory-Wright KC gave a statement on behalf of NHS Blood and Transplant, which was followed by David Johnston KC for the Scottish government. Nicola Leahey, who was infected with hepatitis C through a blood transfusion, also made a closing submission.

Finally, Philip Aldworth KC, pictured, made a statement on behalf of the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and the Department of Health in Northern Ireland. Mark Robinson KC spoke for the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service.

Click here for a summary of this week’s hearings

Week beginning 16 January 2023, London (live)

This was the first week of the final stage of the Infected Blood Inquiry when core participants have the chance to present their views on what recommendations and findings of fact should be made in the final report.

This week there were four days of hearings, beginning with a closing statement from Steven Snowden KC, on behalf of clients of Collins Law. Included in this was a presentation by Brian Cummins about boys and young men infected through treatment at Treloar’s College in the 1980s. This was followed by a statement from Andrew Bragg, who was infected with hepatitis C following a motorbike accident.

On Wednesday there was a short statement on behalf of the Department for Health and Social Care from Eleanor Grey KC, followed by a submission from Barbara Scott, whose husband Ronald died as a result of being infected with HIV and hepatitis C through treatment for his haemophilia.

Closing submissions on behalf of the Haemophilia Society and those represented by Eversheds Sutherland were made on Thursday by Katie Gollop KC, pictured. Next was a statement on behalf of the UK haemophilia doctors’ organisation (UKHCDO) was made by Andrew Kennedy KC.

Finally, on Friday there was a statement made by Karon Monaghan KC on behalf of Saunders Law clients, followed by a statement by Roanna Maharaj on behalf of the UK Thalassaemia Society.

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

Week beginning 14 November 2022, London (live and remote)

On this final week of oral evidence, 16 expert witnesses gave evidence to the Infected Blood Inquiry.

On Monday, 14 November the witnesses were: Alex Chisholm, Chief Operating Officer for the Civil Service and Permanent Secretary for the Cabinet Office, Jayne Brady, Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, Andrew Goodall, Welsh Government Permanent Secretary, Lesley Fraser, Director-General Corporate for the Scottish Government and Dame June Raine, Chief Executive of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

On Tuesday, the inquiry heard from: Dr Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Advisor for the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and Professor Colin Melville, Medical Director and Director of Education and Standards for the General Medical Council (GMC).

On Wednesday, the witnesses on the issues of pharamcovigilence and haemovigilence were: Professor James Neuberger, Chair of The Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO), Professor Mark Bellamy, Chair of the Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT) Steering Group and Dr Alison Cave, Chief Safety Officer for the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

On Thursday there was evidence from experts on how to trace people with hepatitis C who are so far undiagnosed. They were:  Professor Graham Foster, National Clinical Lead for Hepatitis C for NHS England, Professor John Dillon, Professor of Hepatology on behalf of the Scottish Health Boards, Dr Brendan Healy, Blood Borne virus clinical lead for Wales, Dr Joanne McClean, Director of Public Health in the Public Health Agency (Northern Ireland). They were followed by Dr Michael Mulholland, Honorary Secretary of the Royal College of General Practitioners.

The final witness on Friday was Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam, pictured, former Deputy Chief Medical Officer from 2017 – 2022.

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

Week beginning 7 November, 2022, London (live and remote)

This week’s evidence has come from experts giving a range of information generally relating to current care or practice.  The exception was the inquiry’s statistics panel of Professor Sheila Bird, Professor Stephen Evans and Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter who were present to explain the methodology behind their report for the inquiry as well as its contents.

Brian O’Mahony, pictured, Chief Executive of the Irish Haemophilia Society, spoke about his country’s experience of compensation, which continues to have benefits 20 years on.

The other witnesses were Lord Jonathan Evans, Chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, Professor Derek Manas, Medical Director of the Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Clinical Team at NHS Blood and Transplant, Professor Ian Roberts, Professor of Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Keith Carter, Independent Labour Market Analyst and founder member of the Expert Witness Institute.

There was also evidence from a panel of experts on specialist psychological support. They were Dr Caroline Coffey, Dr Gráinne O’Brien, Dr Belinda Hacking, Dr Sarah Meekin, Caroline Leonard and Luisa Stewart.

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

Week beginning 10 October 2022, London (live)

This week at the Infected Blood Inquiry there were two days of evidence from Professor Richard Tedder, pictured, a leading virologist who has spent much of his career at Middlesex Hospital Medical School. Professor Tedder was also an Honorary Consultant at the Public Health Laboratory Service between 1981 and 1991 and Honorary Consultant Virologist to the National Blood Service from 1999 to 2018.

Professor Tedder was mainly giving evidence about his scientific research which led to the development of the first HIV test in 1984. He also told the inquiry about his work with colleague Professor Robin Weiss and a commercial partner to scale up the test to allow it to be rolled out to the UK’s Blood Transfusion Service in late 1985.

Click here for a summary of his evidence.

Week beginning 3 October 2022, London (live)

This week the Infected Blood Inquiry heard from parents of children infected with HIV and hepatitis C who’d been treated at Birmingham Children’s Hospital as well as four people who had only recently been diagnosed with hepatitis C, despite being infected decades ago. There were also two days of evidence from the inquiry’s Public Health and Administration expert group.

The members of the Public Health and Administration group giving evidence were: Lord Michael Bichard, Clare Salters, Professor Charles Vincent, Professor David Armstrong, Professor Allyson Pollock and Professor Anne-Maree Farrell.

Giving evidence about Birmingham Children’s Hospital were, pictured, left to right, Elisabeth Buggins, Brenda Haddock, Linda Woolliscroft and Mr and Mrs BE who wanted to remain anonymous.

Witnesses Robert Ellinor, Wendy Woods, Mrs BF and Mr BG spoke about their late hepatitis C diagnoses.

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

Week beginning 26 September 2022, London (live)

This week the Infected Blood Inquiry brought together panels of the infected and affected to discuss themes which have emerged from evidence so far.

The first panel looked at the experiences of the Skipton Fund by people trying to apply who found they had missing medical records. The witnesses were Robert Bamforth, Andrew Bragg, Peter Frith, Ruby Gilkes, Rachael Tersteeg, Gary McKelvey as well as one person who wanted to remain anonymous.

Next was a panel about the experiences of people with hepatitis C who cleared the infection without treatment but have experienced ill health with witnesses Wayne Gathercole, Marlene Neve, Kevin Roberts and Steven Towsey.

The next topic was people’s experiences of being infected with hepatitis B with evidence from Fiona Allan, Sally Davis, Linda Kitson and Dorothy Wright. There was then evidence from two women, Susan Hallwood, pictured, and Elaine Read who had children with haemophilia treated at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool in the 1980s.

Finally, a panel discussed the experiences of people infected and affected from minority ethnic communities. The witnesses were Waqar Ahmad, Regina Cheptanui and Ghufrana Qureshi.

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

Week beginning 19 September 2022, London (live and remote)

This week’s hearings were shorter than anticipated due to the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. There were three days of evidence, beginning with a presentation about government decision-making and the response of government in Scotland. There was remote evidence from career civil servant John Canavan, who worked in the Department of Health’s Blood Policy Unit and was the administrative secretary for the Advisory Committee on the Virological Safety of Blood between 1989 and 1994.

Finally, Baroness Dawn Primarolo, pictured, gave evidence about her time as Public Health Minister between 2007 and 2009 with specific focus on the government’s response to the Archer Inquiry in 2009.

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

Week beginning 12 September, 2022, London (live)

There were five days of evidence this week, which mainly looked at the government response to missing or destroyed documents between 2004 to 2007 but also covered record keeping and media coverage of the contaminated blood scandal in 1983.

The first witness was Lord Nigel Crisp, NHS Chief Executive and Permanent Secretary for Health from 2000 to 2006, who was followed by  Anita James, a lawyer in the Department of Health between 1981 and 1996 who then returned as Department of Health Head of Litigation between 1999 and 2005.

Other witnesses were Zubeda Seedat a civil servant in the Blood Policy Unit at the Department of Health between 2002 and 2008 and Caroline Flint, pictured, a health minister between 2005 and 2007.

In addition to this, there was evidence from Susan Douglas, the former medical correspondent for the Mail on Sunday, who wrote a front-page story in May 1983 exposing the potential transmission of AIDS through blood products.

Professor David Armstrong, Professor of Medicine and Sociology at King’s College London and an expert from the public health and administration group, gave evidence about record keeping plus there was a short presentation on medical records by junior counsel Sarah Fraser Butlin.

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

Week beginning 27 July, 2022, London (remote and live)

This week four witnesses gave evidence over five days and inquiry chair, Sir Brian Langstaff, announced that he was making an interim recommendation that the government should pay interim compensation to all those currently registered on a UK infected blood support scheme.

The first witness was Aileen Keel, whose roles have included Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Scotland (1999-2014) and Acting Chief Medical Officer for Scotland (2014-2015). She gave evidence for two days.

Next was Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Health between 2012 and 2018. Malcolm Chisholm Deputy Minister (2000-2001) and Minister (2001-2004) for Health and Community Care in the Scottish Government then gave evidence about Scotland’s role in establishing a UK-wide support scheme for people infected with hepatitis C.

Finally, Susan Deacon, Minister for Health and Community Care in the Scottish Government between 1999 and 2001 gave evidence.

Week beginning 18 July, 2022, London (live and remote)

This week has covered topics including the setting up of what would become the Skipton Fund in 2003 and government support for people infected with HIV through blood and blood products in the 1980s.

In five days of evidence this week, the inquiry heard from Duncan Macniven, who was assistant secretary at the Scottish Home and Health Department from 1986 to 1990. He was followed by Lord Michael Forsyth who joined the Scottish Office as a junior minister in 1987 and stayed until 1992, during which time he was promoted to be a minister. Between 1995 and 1997 he was Secretary of State for Scotland.

Lord John Reid, Secretary of State for Health between 2003-2005, gave evidence primarily on his role in setting up financial support for people infected with hepatitis C through blood and blood products. Hazel Blears, a junior health minister between 2001 and 2003 also gave evidence.

Dr Robert McQuiston, assistant secretary in the Health Services Division, Department of Health and Social Security for Northern Ireland between 1984 and 1988 gave evidence about HIV public health campaigns in that period. There was a short presentation about governmental decision-making in Northern Ireland and Wales in the 1980s.

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

Week beginning 11 July, 2022, London (live)

This week has been dominated by discussions on compensation, the inner workings of government and the role of the Civil Service.

The inquiry heard two days of evidence from Sir Robert Francis QC, author of the independent Infected Blood Compensation Study which set out a proposed framework for how compensation could be paid by the government to those infected and affected by the contaminated blood scandal.

There was evidence from Andy Burnham, pictured, the current Mayor of Greater Manchester and former Health Secretary from 2009 to 2010. Alan Milburn, who was Health Secretary from 1999 to 2003, also gave evidence. Rowena Jecock, who worked as a civil servant in the Department of Health between 1998 and 2017, told the inquiry about her work in its CJD team and, later, its Blood Policy Unit at the time of the Archer Inquiry.

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

Week beginning 4 July, 2022, London (live)

This week there have been four days of evidence at the Infected Blood Inquiry, beginning with Lord William Waldegrave, former Health Secretary from 1990 to 1992.

There was then a presentation of the role of the chief medical officer in the 1970s and 80s.

Finally, long-standing campaigner Carol Grayson, pictured, gave evidence about her 30 years of campaigning and research as a result of the HIV and hepatitis C infections of her husband Pete Longstaff and brother-in-law Stephen, who both died.

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

Week beginning 27 June, 2022, London (live)

This week the Infected Blood Inquiry has heard evidence from key Conservative politicians in power in the late 1980s and 1990s.

The first witness was Sir John Major, pictured, who served as Prime Minister from 1990 to 1997 and also worked in the Treasury from 1987 to 1990 – the last year of which was as Chancellor.

Next was Baroness Virginia Bottomley, health minister from 1989 to 1992, who was promoted to Health Secretary in 1992 until 1995. Lord John Horam was a junior health minister for 17 months between 1995 and 1997.

The final witness was Baroness Gloria Hooper who was health minster in the Lords between 1989 and 1992.

For a summary of this week’s evidence, click here.

Week beginning 6 June, 2022, London (live and remote)

This week the Infected Blood Inquiry looked at issues including litigation brought in 1988 by people with haemophilia infected with HIV, the launch of the Skipton Fund and destroyed documents at the Department of Health.

The first witness was Sir Michael Rawlins, Professor of Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Newcastle from 1973 to 2006 and a member of the Committee on the Safety of Medicines from 1980 to 1998.

His evidence was followed by Charles Lister, head of blood policy at the Department of Health from 1998 to 2003. Justin Fenwick QC, pictured, gave evidence about his time on the legal team instructed by the Central Defendants in the HIV litigation between 1988 and 1991. The final witness was Richard Gutowski, who worked in the Department of Health’s Medicines Division from 1984 until 1991 and was head of blood policy from 2003 to 2004.

For a summary of this week’s evidence click here.

Week beginning 16 May, 2022, London (live)

This week there were two days of  evidence about new variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (vCJD) before moving on to hear from two politicians who worked in the Department of Health in the 1980s.

The week began with evidence from Professor James Ironside who is Emeritus Professor of Clinical Neuropathology at the University of Edinburgh and worked for many years at the National CJD Research and Surveillance Unit there.

The next witness was Dr Nicky Connor, a consultant epidemiologist and head of the Department of Health’s CJD Team from 2000 to 2012 while on secondment from the Health Protection Agency.  Her evidence was followed by a presentation on the chronology of key events relevant to vCJD,

Former health minister and chief secretary to the Treasury, David Mellor, pictured, gave evidence about his and the government’s attitude to compensation and his eventual involvement in the settlement of the HIV litigation case in 1991.

Finally, there was evidence from Lord John Patten, who was a junior health minister between 1983 and 1985.

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

Week beginning 9 May, 2022, London (live)

This week there was evidence from three witnesses over four days of evidence which started by looking at the work of two doctors employed by the Department of Health between 1982 and 1997 and finished with evidence about vCJD. Dr Andrzej Rejman, pictured, worked as a senior medical officer with responsibility for haematology at the Department of Health from 1989 and 1997. During his tenure he was involved in work on the HIV litigation case and sat in on meetings of the Advisory Committee for the Virological Safety of Blood. Dr Hilary Pickles was a principal medical officer for the Department of Health between 1982 and 1994. She worked on the government’s AIDS unit between 1986 and 1988.

Professor John Collinge set up the first specialist prion unit in 1996, which went on to become a national service. He is a leading expert on vCJD.

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

Week beginning 28 March, 2022, London (live and remote)

This week there was evidence from two witnesses over four days on the topic of quality control of blood products in the UK’s two fractionation facilities. Dr Terry Snape worked in quality control at the Blood Products Laboratory in Elstree and the Plasma Fractionation Laboratory in Oxford from 1970 – 2000, finishing his tenure at BPL as technical director. Dr Robert Perry, pictured, joined the Protein Fractionation Centre in Edinburgh in 1981 as a quality control inspector and became director in 1985.

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

Week beginning 21 March, 2022, London (live)

This week has been a mixture of presentations and live evidence over four days on the issue of self-sufficiency and the domestic supply of blood products in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Evidence began with the completion of a presentation on Dr Richard Lane, director of BPL Elstree from 1978 which was started last week. There was then a presentation on self-sufficiency and the domestic supply of blood products in Scotland and Northern Ireland, followed by a presentation about the size of pools of plasma used in domestic production of blood products in the UK.

There were two days of live evidence from Dr Peter Foster, pictured, head of research and development at the Protein Fractionation Centre in Edinburgh from 1974 to 2008.

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

Week beginning 14 March, 2022, London (live)

This week the Infected Blood Inquiry has turned to the issue of fractionation, with three presentations. The first, presented by junior counsel Matthew Hill, pictured, was on self sufficiency and domestic blood production in England and Wales. There was also a presentation on Dr Jim Smith, a senior chemist who worked at the fractionation plants in Edinburgh, Oxford and Elstree between 1968 and 1992. A third presentation was about Dr Richard Lane, director of BPL Elstree from 1978.

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

Week beginning 28 February, 2022, London (live)

This week the inquiry heard three days of evidence, beginning with Professor Anthony Goldstone, consultant haematologist at University College London Hospital and UCLH NHS Trust from 1976 to 2011 who was responsible for setting up a dedicated leukaemia unit at the hospital.  He was followed by Dr Dafydd Thomas, who was consultant in intensive care and anaesthesia at West Glamorgan Health Board and Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board from 1989 until his retirement in 2020.

Former chief medical officer, Professor Dame Sally Davies told the inquiry about the care and treatment of people with sickle cell, based on her time as Professor of Haemoglobinopathies and Consultant Haematologist specialising in sickle cell disease at the Central Middlesex Hospital between 1985 and 2004. Emma Prescott, Clinical Nurse Specialist (Thalassaemia) at the Whittington Health NHS Trust since 1995 gave expert evidence on the treatment and care of Thalassaemia.

Finally, the inquiry’s expert panel on palliative care in advanced liver disease gave evidence, followed by Samantha May of The Hepatitis C Trust.

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

Week beginning 21 February, 2022, London (live)

There were three days of evidence at the inquiry this week, including two presentations. The first looked at the experiences of those infected as a result of blood transfusion and the second looked at clinical guidance on blood transfusion.

Two clinicians gave evidence about the circumstances in which a blood transfusion would be given after childbirth, starting with Professor Philip Steer, pictured, who was emeritus professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at the Imperial College Faculty of Medicine at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London. His evidence was followed by Dr David Bogod, a consultant anaesthetist with a special interest in obstetrics who worked at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.

The final day of evidence heard testimony from two experts in blood transfusion practice, consultant haematologist Dr Jonathan Wallis, who worked at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle from 1990 to 2019 and consultant haematologist Professor Michael Murphy, who was clinical director (patients) for NHSBT from 2004 where he remained until his retirement in 2021.

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

Week beginning 7 February, 2022, London (remote)

This week there were three days of evidence, including two presentations on Wessex and Yorkshire Regional Blood Transfusion Centres. The inquiry also heard evidence from two witnesses, Dr Huw Lloyd, pictured, former director of Northern Region Blood Transfusion Service from 1988 to 1995 and Dr Stanley Dempsey, consultant paediatric haematologist at Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children from 1980 to 2008.

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

Week beginning 31 January, 2022, London (remote)

This week there were three days of evidence from clinicians employed by blood transfusion services in Scotland and England. Dr Morris McClelland, pictured, was responsible for Belfast Blood Transfusion Service from 1980 to 2009. Dr Gamal Gabra was consultant haematologist at Glasgow and West of Scotland Blood Transfusion Service from 1980 to 1988 and consultant haematologist at Birmingham Blood Transfusion Service from 1992 to 2002. Dr Frank Boulton was director of Liverpool Haemophilia Centre between 1975 and 1980 before moving to Edinburgh and South East Scotland Blood Transfusion Service in 1980 where he became deputy director in 1982. In 1990 he became medical director of Wessex Blood Transfusion Service until his retirement in 2006.

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

Week beginning 24 January, 2022, London (remote)

This week there were four days of evidence from three witnesses from UK blood transfusion services. Dr Bill Wagstaff was director of Sheffield, formerly Trent, Regional Blood Transfusion Service from 1974 – 1995. Professor John Barbara was head of microbiology at North London Regional Blood Transfusion Service from 1974 to 1995. His role was scientific and not clinical. Dr Brian McClelland, pictured, director of Edinburgh and South East Scotland Blood Transfusion Service from 1979 to 2002, gave evidence over two days.

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

Week beginning 17 January, 2022, London (live and remote)

This week the inquiry heard three days of evidence about blood services policy and practice in the UK. There was evidence from Dr Roger Moore, pictured, who worked for the Department for Health and Social Security from 1981 to 1992 and was involved in policy on haemophilia, blood transfusion and the Central Blood Laboratories. He was also deputy national director, National Directorate of the National Blood Transfusion Service from 1989 to 1992. The other witnesses were Dr Jack Gillon, who was consultant haematologist at the South East Scotland Blood Transfusion Service from 1985 to 2006 and Dr Vanessa Martlew, consultant haematologist at the North West Regional Blood Transfusion Service from 1984 to 1988 and director of the Mersey and North Wales Regional Transfusion Service between 1988 and 1995.

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

Week beginning 6 December, 2021, London (remote and live)

This week the inquiry heard five days of evidence from four experts in the blood services field. Dr Colin Entwistle was consultant director of Oxford Blood Transfusion Centre from 1980 to 1995, Dr George Galea was senior registrar and then consultant in transfusion medicine at Aberdeen and North East of Scotland Blood Transfusion Service from 1984 to 1993 and director of Inverness and North of Scotland Blood Transfusion Service from 1993 to 1996). He was also director of Dundee and East of Scotland Blood Transfusion Service from 1996 to 1999 and tissues and cells director at the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service from 1999 to 2013.

Dr Dr Lorna Williamson was honorary consultant haematologist at East Anglia Blood Transfusion Centre from 1991 to 1994 and clinical lead for blood components at London and South East Zone of the National Blood Service from 1994 to 1999. She was also national clinical director for components for the National Blood Service from 1999 to 2007 and medical and research director at NHS Blood and Transplant from 2007 to 2016.

Dr Patricia Hewitt, pictured, was consultant haematologist at North London Blood Transfusion Centre from 1984 to 1995 and lead consultant in transfusion microbiology at the  London and South East Zone of the National Blood Service from 1995 to 2000. She was national lead consultant in transfusion microbiology at the National Blood Service and then NHS Blood and Transplant from 2000 to 2018.

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

Week beginning 29 November, 2021, London (remote and live)

This week the inquiry heard four days of evidence from two experts from the blood transfusion service. Dr Tony Napier was medical director of the Welsh Regional Blood Transfusion Service from 1977 to 1998 and Professor Dame Marcela Contreras, pictured, was deputy director of the North London Blood Transfusion Centre between 1980 and 1984 as well as chief executive and medical director of the North London Blood Transfusion Centre from 1984 to 1995. She took over as executive director of the London and South East Zone of the National Blood Service in 1995 where she stayed until 1999 when she became the national director of diagnostics, development and research at the National Blood Service until 2007.

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

Week beginning 8 November, 2021, London (live)

This week there was a presentation on the history and organisation of Blood Services over two days followed by a presentation on Professor John Cash, a leading figure in Scottish blood services who was national medical and scientific director of the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service from 1979 to 1988. There was also a presentation on Dr Harold Gunson, a key figure in blood services in England who was consultant advisor to the chief medical officer from 1981 to 1994.

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

Week beginning 1 November, 2021, London (live and remote)

This week the inquiry heard two days of presentations from its counsel on the knowledge of risk and the response to risk by pharmaceutical companies involved in blood products. There was also one day of evidence from witness Christopher Bishop, pictured, who worked for Armour UK from 1969 to 1993.

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

Week beginning 4 October, 2021, London (live)

This week the inquiry heard presentations from counsel over four days. Its long-running presentation on pharmaceutical companies involved in blood products came to an end with Speywood, Alpha, Abbott and Griffols covered. There was then a presentation on smaller haemophilia centres in England, including smaller centres in London.

Week beginning  27 September, 2021, London (live)

This week the inquiry heard four days of evidence, which were mainly presentations on pharmaceutical companies which imported blood products to the UK. These were: Travenol, Armour, Bayer and Speywood. There was also live evidence from Sarah Middleton, chief scientist at Speywood from 1979 to 1987.

Week Beginning 20 September, 2021, London (live)

This week Lord (Norman) Fowler, Secretary of State for Health and Social Security from 1981  – 1987 gave evidence over two days. In addition the inquiry began its presentation on the main importers of blood products to the UK markets in the 1970s and 80s, beginning with Austrian-based Immuno, followed by Travenol. There was also a short presentation on licensing regulations at that time.

Week beginning 26 July, 2021, London (live)

This week Lord (Kenneth) Clarke, health minister from 1982-1985 and Secretary of State for Health from 1988-1990 gave evidence over three days.

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

Week beginning 19 July, 2021, London (live)

This week the inquiry has turned to civil servants and politicians from the 1970s and 80s. Dr Diana Walford 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 Lord (Simon) Glenarthur, a junior health minister from 1983-85 who was responsible for blood and blood products.

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

Week beginning 21 June, 2021, London (live and remote)

This week the inquiry has investigated the Lord Mayor of Treloar’s College in Hampshire during the 1970s and 1980s. Evidence came from former pupils, parents of pupils and former staff as well as a presentation from inquiry counsel, Jenni Richards QC. The witnesses were: Gary Webster, Nick Sainsbury, Lee Stay, John Peach, pictured,  Gary Bennett and Alec Macpherson. Two former pupils gave evidence anonymously as Mr BA and Mr BC.

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

Week beginning 14 June, 2021, London

Two days of presentations from Jenni Richards QC, counsel to the inquiry, on smaller haemophilia centres. The centres covered were: The Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Booth Hall, Maelor, Leighton, Blackpool, Lancaster, Blackburn, Sheffield Children’s Hospital, the Royal Liverpool Hospital, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Walton Hospital, St James’ Hospital, Leeds, Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness and Bristol.

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

Week beginning 7 June, 2021, London (live and remote)

Four days of evidence from campaigners. This week’s witnesses were: Robert James, former chair of the Birchgrove group, Bruce Norval, pictured, Simon Hamilton, chair of Haemophilia Northern Ireland, Bill Wright, chair of Haemophilia Scotland, Lynne Kelly, chair of Haemophilia Wales and Jason Evans, founder of Factor 8 campaign group.

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

Week beginning 24 May, 2021, London (remote and live evidence)

Three days of evidence about The Haemophilia Society plus a one-day presentation from inquiry counsel on ethical and professional guidelines for clinicians. This week’s witnesses were: Peter Wetherell, chair of the THS Cambridge local branch 1981-83, member of THS executive committee 1983-5, Simon Taylor, pictured, THS trustee from 1985-1988, 1991-1996 and 1998-2002 and Karin Pappenheim, chief executive of THS from 1998-2004.

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

Week beginning 18 May, 2021, London (remote and live evidence)

Four days of evidence on the UK’s current infected blood support schemes. This week’s witnesses were: Mairi Gougeon, Scotland’s Minister for Public Health and Sport (until 20 May 2021), Samantha Baker, team leader Infected Blood Team in Scottish Government’s Health Protection Division, Martin Bell, director of Primary Care and Counter Fraud Services, NHS National Services Scotland, Robin Swann, Northern Ireland’s Minister of Health for Department of Health, Liz Redmond director of Population Health, Department of Health, Vaughan Gething, Wales’ Minister for the Economy, and Minister for Health and Social Services from 2016 to May 2021, Alison Ramsey deputy director of finance and corporate services, NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership, Brendan Brown, director of citizen services, National Health Service Business Services Authority, Matt Hancock Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and William Vineall, director of NHS Quality, Safety and Investigations, Department of Health and Social Care.

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

Week beginning 29 March, 2021, London (remote)

Week beginning 22 March, 2021, London (remote)

Week beginning 8 March 2021, London (remote)

Week beginning 1 March 2021, London (remote)

Week beginning 22 February 2021, London (remote and in person)

Week beginning 8 February 2021, London (remote)

Four days of evidence, primarily from David Watters, former general secretary of The Haemophilia Society from 1981 to 1994. The inquiry also completed its presentation on Newcastle Haemophilia Centre. Click here for a summary of this week’s hearings.

Week beginning 1 February 2021, London (remote)

Two days of evidence from Counsel to the Inquiry, Jenni Richards QC. She gave a presentation on Kevin Slater, pictured left, holding his baby niece, the first person with haemophilia to be diagnosed with AIDS in the UK, followed by one on Newcastle Haemophilia Centre, which will be completed on 9 February. Click here for a summary of this week’s hearings.

Week beginning 25 January 2021, London (remote)

Two days of evidence from the inquiry’s medical ethics expert panel: Professor Bobbie Farsides, Prof Julian Savulescu, Prof Emma Cave, Prof Ian Kerridge and Dr Melinee Kazarian. Click here for a summary of this week’s hearings.

Week beginning 11 January, 2021, London (remote)

Four days of evidence from Dr David Bevan of St George’s Hospital, Tooting, Dr Janet Shirley of Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey and Prof Peter Collins of Cardiff Haemophilia Centre as well as a presentation on Manchester Haemophilia Centre from counsel to the inquiry, Jenni Richards QC. Click here for a summary of this week’s hearings.

Week beginning 7 December, 2020, London (remote)

Four days of evidence from Dr Anna Pettigrew and Prof Ian Hann, formerly of the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Yorkhill, Glasgow and Prof Gordon Lowe, former co-director of the Glasgow Royal Infirmary’s haemophilia centre. Click here for a summary of this week’s inquiry hearings.

Week beginning 30 November, 2020, London (remote)

Four days of evidence from Prof Christopher Ludlam, former director of Edinburgh Haemophilia Centre 1980-2011. Click here for a summary of this week’s inquiry hearings.

Week beginning 16 November, 2020, London (remote)

Three days of remote hearings with evidence from three former haemophilia centre directors. Dr Saad Al-Ismail (Swansea), Dr Vivian Mitchell (Leicester) and Dr Paul Giangrande (Oxford). Click here for a summary of this week’s inquiry hearings.

Week beginning 2 November, 2020, London (remote)

Three days of remote hearings with evidence from Prof Eric Preston, former director of Sheffield Haemophilia Centre and Prof Charles Hay, the current director of Manchester Haemophilia Centre since 1994. A summary of this week’s inquiry hearings can be found here.

Week beginning 26 October, 2020, London

Three days of hearings looking at Birmingham haemophilia centres and Bradford Haemophilia Centre. A presentation was given about the role of Prof Frank Hill, former director of Birmingham Haemophilia Centre from 1976. His co-director from 1983 – 1992, Prof Ian Franklin, gave evidence as did his successor Dr Jonathan Wilde. Prof Liakat Parapia, director of Bradford Haemophilia Centre from 1982 – 2009, also gave evidence. A summary of this week’s inquiry hearings can be found here.

Week beginning 19 October, 2020, London

Three days of hearings from two former directors of the Royal Free Hospital’s haemophilia centre, Professor Christine Lee and Professor Edward Tuddenham. A summary of this week’s inquiry hearings can be found here.

Week beginning 5 October, 2020, London

Four days of hearings, beginning with evidence from Dr Brian Colvin, director of the Royal London’s Haemophilia Centre from 1977-2007. There were also presentations on Oxford Haemophilia Centre and St Thomas’ Haemophilia Centre as well as the conclusion of a presentation on the role of Professor Arthur Bloom from Cardiff Haemophilia Centre. A summary of this week’s inquiry hearings can be found here.

Week beginning 28 September, 2020, London

Three days of hearings, beginning with a presentation about Professor Arthur Bloom and Cardiff Haemophilia Centre followed by two days of evidence from Dr Mark Winter, director of Kent Haemophilia Centre from 1983 – 2011. A summary of this week’s inquiry hearings can be found here.

Week beginning 21 September, 2020, London

Three days of hearings, beginning with evidence from Lord David Owen and moving on to a presentation on knowledge of risk of infection from blood and blood products. A summary of this week’s inquiry hearings can be found here.

Week beginning 24 February, 2020, London

Five days of expert witness hearings, plus evidence from the inquiry’s intermediaries. A summary of this week’s inquiry hearings can be found here

Week beginning 28 October 2019, London

The last week of the first phase of personal testimonies. A summary of this week’s inquiry hearings can be found here

Week beginning 14 October 2019, London

A summary of the personal testimonies from this week’s inquiry hearings can be found here

Week beginning 7 October 2019, London

The first week of personal testimony hearings following the summer break. A summary of this week’s evidence can be found here

Week beginning 22 July 2019, Cardiff

The final week of personal testimonies before the summer break. A summary of this week’s inquiry hearings can be found here

Week beginning 8 July 2019, Edinburgh

The second and final week of personal testimony hearings in Edinburgh. A summary of this week’s hearings can be found here

Week beginning 1 July 2019, Edinburgh

The first of two weeks of personal testimonies from Edinburgh. A summary of this week’s inquiry hearings can be found here

Week beginning 17 June 2019, Leeds

The second of two weeks of personal testimonies from Leeds. A summary of this week’s inquiry hearings can be found here.

Week beginning 10 June 2019, Leeds

The first of two weeks of personal testimonies from Leeds. A summary of this week’s inquiry hearings can be found here.

Week beginning 3 June 2019, London

A summary of this week’s personal testimonies from London can be found here.

Week beginning May 20 2019, Belfast

This week’s hearings took place in Belfast. A summary of this week’s personal testimonies can be found here.

Week beginning May 7 2019, London

A summary of this week’s personal testimonies can be found here.

Week beginning April 30 2019, London

The inquiry gets underway. The first evidence given is from people infected and affected by the contaminated blood scandal. A summary of this week’s personal testimonies can be found here.