May 20, 2024 - The Ocean Avenue News - oceanavenuenews.com

A victim of the infected blood scandal has spoken out on her anguish after a five-year investigation into the matter was finally concluded.

The inquiry identified a catalogue of failures by the NHS and successive governments where patients were knowingly exposed to “unacceptable risks”.

Speaking on GB News was Sue Wathen, who blasted her treatment as “disgraceful”.

“I had several blood transfusions in the 1970s and ’80s. I can’t be specific as to when because my records pertaining to blood have disappeared. They no longer exist in my medical files.

Sue Wathen and protesters

“I was, at some point in that time, infected with Hepatitis C. I suffered with several things where GPs would say, ‘how on earth have you got that?’

“I was very fatigued, I had itchy skin, all the things that would traditionally go with Hepatitis C.

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Asked by Martin Daubney about the moment the “penny dropped”, Wathen admitted she had no idea that she was living with the condition until she was sent for further tests.

“They asked me if I had any blood transfusions in the ‘70s, ‘80s or early ’90s. I said yes, and they ran another test.

“I agreed, and two weeks later I was in a classroom as I was a teacher, it was lunch time and I got a phone call to say my test for Hepatitis C was positive.

“I fell back into the chair I was sitting in. I had no idea what this condition was.

Infected blood campaigners

“I had been living with this for 30 years.”

Daubney asked if it had been a case of “30 years of feeling drained”, Wathen said “yes, and ill. I was very unwell.”

She went on to admit that realising the issue was more widespread than originally thought came as a huge relief.

“It was quite a while before one of my sons said to me, ‘what you have to do now is be more proactive. You have to fight for yourself’”, she said.

Sue Wathen and Martin Daubney

“It was a revelation to me that there were other people like me.”

NHS Scotland Health Boards said in a statement: “We sincerely apologise for the historical failings described in the Infected Blood Inquiry and empathise with the impact these events had on infected and affected people.

“We welcome the publication of this inquiry and we would like to thank the chair and staff for the work undertaken to produce this comprehensive report.

“Modern safety standards are rigorous and significant advancements in screening and testing protocols have been made since the events that have been the subject of this inquiry. All donated blood then undergoes thorough testing before being used for transfusions.

“NHS Scotland is committed to ensuring lessons from these events have been learned as we continue to prioritise a safe and sustainable blood supply across Scotland.”

Scottish Government public health minister Jenni Minto said: “Today is about those who have been infected, their families and support organisations, and I want to pay tribute to them. They have been focused on ensuring the impact of this terrible tragedy, their suffering, has not been ignored.

“On behalf of the Scottish Government, I reiterate our sincere apology to those who have been infected or affected by NHS blood or blood products.

“The Scottish Government has already accepted the moral case for compensation for infected blood victims and is committed to working with the UK Government to ensure any compensation scheme works as well as possible for victims.

“We are determined to use the inquiry’s report to ensure lessons have been learned so a tragedy like this can never happen again.”

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