Birmingham hospitals named in tainted blood probe say ‘sorry’ after ‘tragedy’

Two Birmingham hospitals have apologized after being singled out for criticism in a damning report into the worst treatment disaster in NHS history. The historic failings of Birmingham Children’s Hospital and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QE) have been laid bare in the inquest which found victims of the contaminated blood scandal were “repeatedly failed”.

From 1970-1991, more than 30,000 patients were infected with HIV and hepatitis C through contaminated blood or blood products. The five-year public inquiry, launched on Monday 20 May, found that the deaths of 3,000 people treated with contaminated blood were “no accident” and that politicians, doctors and civil servants were guilty of an “appalling” cover-up. .

Rishi Sunak yesterday promised compensation for the victims and said the publication of the tainted blood inquiry report was a “national day of shame”. In separate statements, both Birmingham Children’s Hospital and QE apologized to those affected by the tragedy.

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In the 1970s, substantial amounts of commercial concentrates were used to treat hemophiliacs—despite the fact that they were at greater risk of hepatitis. Birmingham Children’s Hospital was one of several pediatric haemophilia centers singled out for criticism in the report.

The report said: “It is clear that the treatment regimes at Alder Hey, Yorkhill and Birmingham Children’s Hospital, where commercial concentrates were the main treatment, were totally unacceptable. It is also clear that most clinicians responsible for children with hemophilia did. they don’t pay enough attention to the dangers to their patients They had all the information they needed to do it better and the children suffered as a result.

Matthew Boazman, chief executive of Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Today, on behalf of our Trust, I would like to apologize to all the families affected. sympathies go out to all those individuals and their families who have been affected.