Infected Blood Inquiry

Introduction

The Infected Blood Inquiry is an independent Public Inquiry established to examine the circumstances in which men, women and children treated by the National Health Service in the United Kingdom were given infected blood products between 1970 and 1991.

Swansea Bay University Health Board acknowledges that we were involved in the delivery of care to those requiring blood or blood products during this time, and that some of those patients were subsequently infected.

We apologise unreservedly for the pain and suffering this caused not only to the patients, but also their families and carers.

As a Health Board we will continue to support people with bleeding disorders and other people infected through transfusion in any way we are able to.

Swansea Bay has fully committed to assisting the Infected Blood Inquiry with complete transparency. The Health Board has a Duty of Candour to patients and is committed to openness and transparency. The Duty of Candour is a legal requirement for NHS organisations in Wales to be open and honest with service users. Go here to find out more about the Duty of Candour.

What is the Infected Blood Inquiry?

Publication of the Inquiry’s Report will take place at Central Hall, Westminster, on 20 May 2024. Go here to find out more about the inquiry on the Infected Blood Inquiry website.

How did this happen?

Before 1991 some blood donors had HIV and/or Hepatitis C and this resulted in some recipients being infected.

Since 1985 all blood donated in the UK has been routinely tested for HIV and since September 1991 all blood donated in the UK has been routinely tested for Hepatitis C.

What should I do if I have an inherited bleeding disorder and require support or advice?

If you would like support regarding any issues raised by the Infected Blood Inquiry, please contact the Bleeding Disorder Network Wales team at the Haemophilia Centre in Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.

They have set up a dedicated phone line and e-mail to support patients and their families affected and infected by contaminated blood products across Wales. These will operate Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm.

Email: BDNW.InfectedBloodInquiry.Cav@wales.nhs.uk

Telephone: 0800 952 0055 

The team will respond to your call and provide as much help as possible tailored to your individual needs. You will be directed accordingly to appropriate services to include psychological support, social support and wellbeing support. They will also be able to signpost you to access medical records.

Follow this link to the padlet which contains support for those infected and affected.

Alternatively, you can contact Haemophilia Wales via info@haemophiliawales.org. Or you could follow this link to go to the Haemophilia Wales conline contact form.

Who was affected and could I be infected?

Please be reassured that the risk remains low even if you had a blood transfusion before 1991. However, there is a small chance you may have been infected if you:

Received a blood transfusion or blood product before September 1991
Received an organ transplant before 1992

I received a blood transfusion or blood product before September 1991, or an organ transplant before 1992. Do I need to take any action?

The risk is low if you:

Received a blood transfusion or blood products before September 1991
Received an organ transplant before 1992

So while the risk of having acquired an infection is low, if you or a loved one have any concerns you can access a free and confidential test for Hepatitis C and HIV from Public Health Wales. Follow this link to access the Public Health Wales test for Hepatitis C and HIV.

You can also contact our Swansea Bay Concerns Team:

By calling: 01639 684440. Lines are open 8.30am - 5.00pm, Monday to Friday

By emailing: SBU.infectedbloodqueries@wales.nhs.uk

I am worried about a blood transfusion I received before September 1991. What should I do?

The risk of contracting an infection following a blood transfusion is very low but if you are concerned about your risk you can access a free and confidential test for Hepatitis C and HIV from Public Health Wales. Follow this link to access the Public Health Wales test for Hepatitis C and HIV.

Follow this link for further information about Hepatitis C on the Public Health website.

Go here to check your symptoms on the NHS 111 Wales Symptom Checker

I am unsure about the timing of a blood transfusion. How can I find out?

If you are concerned you may be at risk, you do not need to access your records for confirmation or details of your transfusion. You can still request a Hep C test.

Follow this link to access the Public Health Wales test for Hepatitis C and HIV.

If you want to access your medical records for another reason, the contact details are:

Email: accesstorecords@wales.nhs.uk

Telephone: 01639 862010

Or write to us at:

The Subject Access Office

Health Records Department

Neath Port Talbot Hospital

Baglan Way,

Port Talbot

SA12 7BX

01639 862010

I have recently received a blood transfusion. Am I at risk?

All blood donations in the UK are routinely tested for a range of potential infections, including Hepatitis B, C and E, and HIV. This means the likelihood of contracting an infection from a blood transfusion is extremely low.

Since 1985 all blood donated in the UK has been routinely tested for HIV and since September 1991 all blood donated in the UK has been routinely tested for Hepatitis C.

Follow this link to the Blood Health National Oversight Group website to find out more information on the safety and screening of blood.

Is it safe to receive a blood transfusion, blood product or donated organ now?

Blood and blood components are donated by healthy, unpaid volunteers and the risk of an infected unit getting into the UK blood supply is extremely low.

Donors complete a health questionnaire every time they donate and blood donations are tested every time for a range of potential infections. This makes the chance of transmitting any infection extremely low.

Since 1985 all blood donated in the UK has been routinely tested for HIV and since September 1991 all blood donated in the UK has been routinely tested for Hepatitis C.

Follow this link to the Blood Health National Oversight Group website to find out more information on the safety and screening of blood.

Before 1992 donated organs were not routinely screened for Hepatitis C and there is a very small risk a donated organ from someone with Hepatitis C could spread the infection.

Myself or a loved one is infected or affected. What support is available?

Bleeding Disorder Network Wales

They have set up a dedicated phone line and e-mail to support patients and their families affected and infected by contaminated blood products across Wales.

Email: BDNW.InfectedBloodInquiry.Cav@wales.nhs.uk  
Telephone: 0800 952 0055  Lines open 9am-4pm Monday to Friday

Telephone: 0800 952 0055 

Alternatively, you can contact Haemophilia Wales via info@haemophiliawales.org or go here to the Haemophilia Wales online contact form.

Infected Blood Inquiry - Support for Infected and Affected people padlets

Follow this link to the padlet which contains support for those infected and affected.

Wales Infected Blood Support Scheme (WIBSS)

The Wales Infected Blood Support Scheme (WIBSS) aims to provide support to people who have been infected with Hepatitis C and/or HIV as a result of NHS treatment with blood in Wales.

It aims to provide a streamlined financial payment service, a welfare advice service and a psychology and wellbeing service for Welsh beneficiaries and their families.

England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales run their own individual registered schemes. In Wales, anyone who was administered with infected transfusion in a Welsh hospital, regardless of current residence, can apply to be on the Wales Infected Blood Support Scheme.

To be registered on a scheme, you will have:

To complete an application form which you can find on the WIBSS website;
To have had the application endorsed by a medical professional;
To have demonstrated evidence of a transfusion delivered by the NHS in Wales prior to September 1991;
To provide evidence of Hepatitis C and / or HIV infection.

If you think you may be eligible to apply for support, please contact the team on 02921 500 900 or email wibss@wales.nhs.uk.

The UK Government is establishing a single Infected Blood Compensation Scheme to oversee all relevant compensation claims for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

As the work to establish the single scheme progresses, the Wales Infected Blood Support Scheme will continue to manage the service and is there to support you. Please follow this link to the WIBSS website for further updates.

Infected Blood Inquiry

The Infected Blood Inquiry is also funding a confidential support service for anyone affected by treatment with infected blood or blood products. This is run by a team from the British Red Cross who have been working with the Inquiry since September 2018.

You can contact the confidential support service directly by calling 0800 458 9473 or 0203 417 0280 at these times:

Monday between 11am and 1pm
Wednesday between 7pm and 9pm
Friday between 2pm and 4pm

Follow this link for more information about psychological support provided by the British Red Cross, which is working with the Infected Blood Inquiry

Should I continue to give blood?

Welsh Blood Service in Wales oversee services in Wales and giving blood is one of the most selfless gifts you can give to another person. By giving blood, you are potentially saving lives and helping patients with specific conditions recover and lead a normal life.

The Welsh Blood Service has developed a comprehensive FAQ on their website to support you if you have any questions or concerns on issues in relation to the Infected Blood Inquiry. You can read more about the blood donation process, the tests undertaken and blood transfusion by going to this page. It will be updated regularly with the latest information and support.

Follow this link to the Welsh Blood Service website to find out more about giving blood