The taintedblood Timeline - what really happened...
"To no one will we sell, to no one deny or delay, right or justice."
Magna Carta - 15th June, 1215
David Owen announces in the House of Commons that several million pounds has been allocated - but the initiative does not follow through as there is considerable resistance in the Department of Health against putting in the money.
Dr David Owen: "As I told my hon Friend the Member for Sowerby on 17 February, I have authorised the allocation of special finance of up to £0.5m (about half of which would be recurring) to increase the existing production of AHG concentrate within the National Health Service with the aim of the NHS becoming self-sufficient as soon as possible" (final paragraph)
Note: This demonstrates government maladministration as the £500,000 was in fact used by the RTC, leaving BPL Elstree short-changed. The DHSS should have insisted on the extra money being allocated to its intended purpose - which was to fight this threat to public safety.
Type: Recovered Document - Hansard - Written Answer. 6 March 1975.
Location: UK
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Note: The Government is, however, responsible for the two earlier pledges that were given in the House. The targets are not achieved and the UK is still not self-sufficient in blood products.
"Following a special allocation of £500,000 last year substantial progress was now being made in building up production capacity in the NHS, and self-sufficiency in home-produced Factor VIII was expected to be reached in mid-1977." (paragraph 3)
Note: The half million, (intended for building up capacity within the NHS) was, in fact, NOT used for building-up production capacity for self-sufficiency and instead ended up being paid out to increase the amount of people donating blood in the UK.
"The targets were not achieved and we are still not self-sufficient in blood products. I was told by a Minister of the present Government that they made the decision to be self-sufficient in 1982. Was Baroness Trumpington unaware that the House had already been told in 1975 that Britain would be self-sufficient? What happened? ...."
"I am glad to see that you have made an ex-gratia payment for haemophiliacs who, as a result of transfusion, find themselves HIV positive."
"What concerns me however is how this situation has been allowed to occur. I note that in Hansard 393 on 22 January 1975, I said "I believe it is vitally important that the National Health Service should become self-sufficient as soon as practicable in the production of Factor VIII, including AHG concentrates"."
"On 22 April in a written answer I was even more explicit "l hope that the National Health Service can become self-sufficient in the production of all forms of Factor VIII within two or three years". The same answer was very much reiterated on 8 July (column 108).
"I would be grateful if you could let me know what happened to the extra money that was allocated to the regional transfusion centres, and why they did not become self-sufficient. I think I should in fairness warn you that I have it in mind to refer the issue to the Ombudsman on grounds of maladministration unless I receive a satisfactory explanation."
Type: Letter dated 17th November 1987. David Owen writing to the Rt. Hon John Moore MP, then Secretary of State for Health
Location: UK
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Type: National Press Article
Location: UK
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