OUH responds to the Infected Blood Inquiry report

The final report by the Infected Blood Inquiry was published on 20 May 2024.

The Infected Blood Inquiry was established in 2017 to examine why men, women and children in the UK were given infected blood and infected blood products during the 1970s and 1980s.

Regrettably, the Oxford Haemophilia Centre, like many other centres offering treatment for this disorder in the UK, treated patients with infected blood products during this time.

OUH, alongside the rest of the NHS, have learned important lessons from what happened. Today, all treatment is carried out in line with national guidance and best practice guidelines and we put patients, and their families, at the heart of decision-making.

Dr Andrew Brent, Chief Medical Officer at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said:

"We are deeply sorry for the historic treatment of patients with infected blood products; for all the instances in which the care provided fell short; and for the pain, suffering and hardship this caused to people in our care, as well as to their families and loved ones.

"Policies and practice around patient care, consent and data are now completely different to those in the 1970s and 80s and we aim to offer patients the highest quality of care and support.

"We will continue our work to ensure a strong patient safety culture and systems informed by the patient voice. We have already learned important lessons from what happened and will read the report in detail to ensure we continue to learn as an organisation and to support national learning."

Anyone impacted should contact the England Infected Blood Support Scheme, which was set up to support people historically infected with Hepatitis C or HIV from contaminated blood or blood products. They also offer support to families, civil or long-term partners after the death of someone infected.