The Penrose Inquiry recommendation

Appendix 3: Examples of Media

Scottish Government Press Release
Penrose Inquiry 25/03/2015

Health Secretary responds to findings on infected blood

Health Secretary Shona Robison has apologised on behalf of the NHS and Government in Scotland to all patients and families affected by infected NHS blood and blood products in Scotland during the 1970s and 1980s.

The Penrose Inquiry, which was announced by the Scottish Government in 2008, published its final report today.

Lord Penrose chaired the inquiry, which looked in detail at how patients were infected hepatitis C and HIV/ AIDS through blood transfusions and other procedures carried out at NHS hospitals from 1974 onwards.

Ms Robison accepted the report's recommendation - that steps should be taken to offer blood tests to anyone in Scotland who had a blood transfusion before 1991 and who has not already been tested for hepatitis C.

She also confirmed that the Scottish Government will carry out the following measures:

• An immediate commitment to review and improve the financial support schemes on offer to the people affected, and their families, to be concluded before World Haemophilia Day in April 2016. The Scottish Government will work with the rest of the UK nations in undertaking this review
• A reference group of patients and families set up to contribute to that review
• Funding for a pilot scheme for additional psychological support for those affected, rolled out wider if needed
• Continued Scottish Government funding for Haemophilia Scotland and Scottish Infected Blood Forum for at least the next three years

Shona Robison, Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Sport, said:

"On behalf of the NHS and Government in Scotland I would like to say sorry to everyone who has been affected by this terrible tragedy. We recognise just how catastrophic this was for everyone affected.

"While this was a UK - indeed international issue - I hope that today's report means that those affected in Scotland now have at least some of the answers they have long called for.

"I will meet families and those affected today to personally express that apology, and to talk about our response to the inquiry report. The First Minister will confirm that apology on behalf of the NHS and Government in Scotland in Parliament tomorrow, and I will make a full statement in the chamber tomorrow afternoon.

"The people affected are first and foremost in our minds, and I hope that the publication of this detailed and thorough report will, at the very least, give them the comfort of knowing that the circumstances have now been thoroughly investigated in Scotland.

"As Lord Penrose acknowledges, there have been considerable advances in medical and scientific knowledge about blood safety since the early 1980s. Due to stringent testing of blood donations and blood donor selection criteria I am confident that today the blood supply is as safe as it possibly can be. But there is clearly more we can do in this area to support those affected in Scotland, and I am determined we will act quickly to do so.

"We accept the recommendation that blood tests should be offered to anyone who had a transfusion before 1991 and who has not yet been tested. Hepatitis C testing is already freely available on the health service, and awareness campaigns and look back exercises have already been carried out to find people in this situation.

"Our belief is that very few people have not been tested, but we will look at any steps that can be taken to locate anyone who has not yet come forward, including anyone who was treated with blood products for bleeding disorders and not just those who had transfusions.

"The Scottish Government has already contributed around £30 million over the last ten years to the financial support schemes for those people in Scotland people affected by this tragedy. We acknowledge that - as Lord Penrose indicates - some people believe the levels of payments to be insufficient. That is why we will review the financial support schemes on offer, working with the other UK nations. I will establish a reference group of patients and families in Scotland to help us guide this work and I am committed to concluding this review before World Haemophilia Day 2016.

"We are also funding a pilot for additional psychological support for anyone affected, and if that proves effective and identifies a need, we will go on to roll out further counselling services. We will also continue to fund Haemophilia Scotland and Scottish Infected Blood Forum for at least the next three years, to ensure they can continue to perform a vital role in supporting those affected."

Background:

Health Secretary Shona Robison will make a full statement to parliament at 2pm tomorrow (Thursday).

Anyone who believes they were exposed to NHS blood products in Scotland before 1991, and has not already been tested for Hepatitis C, should contact their GP practice to arrange for a blood test to be carried out.

Press Examples

The Times (23 ^rd March 2015) Claims to soar after blood scandal report. Available at: http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/uk/scotland/article4390376.ece [Paywall] (Accessed 01/08/2016)

STV News (25 ^th March 2015) Blood inquiry calls for hepatitis C tests for Scots treated before 1991. Available at: http://stv.tv/news/scotland/315034-scots-infected-by-contaminated-blood-get-results-of-penrose-inquiry/ (Accessed 01/08/2016)

Daily Record (25 ^th March 2015 ) Penrose Inquiry urges Scots to get tested if they received blood products before 1991 and says nothing could have been done to prevent the infections of 3000 people. Available at: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/penrose-inquiry-urges-scots-tested-5397016#AT1KDQQyJUsRbDWq.97 (Accessed 01/08/2016)

Telegraph (25 ^th March 2015) What is the Penrose Inquiry? Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/11493063/What-is-the-Penrose-Inquiry.html (Accessed 01/08/2016)

BBC News (25 ^th March 2015) Penrose inquiry: David Cameron apologises over infected blood. Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-32041715 (Accessed 01/08/2016)

International Business Times (25 ^th March 2015) Penrose inquiry: David Cameron apologises over infected blood scandal. Available at: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/penrose-inquiry-david-cameron-apologises-over-infected-blood-scandal-1493590 (Accessed 01/08/2016)

The Sun (25 ^th March 2015) Cameron says sorry to thousands infected by HIV in NHS blood scandal. Available at: https://www.thesun.co.uk/archives/news/212427/cameron-says-sorry-to-thousands-infected-by-hiv-in-nhs-blood-scandal/ (Accessed 01/08/2016)

Independent (25 ^th March 2015) Penrose report: Blood scandal inquiry branded a 'whitewash'. Available at: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/penrose-report-blood-scandal-inquiry-branded-a-whitewash-10134095.html (Accessed 01/08/2016)

The Herald (25th March 2015) £12m contaminated blood probe branded a whitewash Available at: http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13207377.Penrose_Inquiry____12m_contaminated_blood_probe_branded_a_whitewash/ (Accessed 01/08/2016)

ITV News (25 ^th March 2015) Borders victim: Penrose report is 'a total whitewash'. Available at: http://www.itv.com/news/border/update/2015-03-25/borders-victim-penrose-report-is-a-total-whitewash/ (Accessed 01/08/2016)

Daily Mail (25 ^th March 2015) Blood scandal 'whitewash': After four decades and 2,000 deaths, victims blast £6million report into contaminated NHS supplies. Available at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3011317/Families-thousands-NHS-patients-given-infected-blood-react-fury-whitewash-report-clearing-NHS.html (Accessed 01/08/2016)

The Times (25 ^th March 2015) Victims of poisoned blood transfusions demand answers. Available at: http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/uk/scotland/article4392290.ece [Paywall] (Accessed 01/08/2016)

Scotsman (25 ^th March 2015) Blood scandal victims condemn Penrose inquiry. Available at: http://www.scotsman.com/news/blood-scandal-victims-condemn-penrose-inquiry-1-3728511 (Accessed 01/08/2016)

Guardian (26 ^th March 2015) Scottish government tells contaminated blood victims: "We will do all we can to deliver justice and support". Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/scotland-blog/2015/mar/26/scottish-government-tells-contaminated-blood-victims-we-will-do-all-we-can-to-deliver-justice-and-support (Accessed 01/08/2016)

Daily Record (26 ^th March 2015) Furious HIV and Hep C blood mix-up campaigners burn report that blames no one for their agony. Available at: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/health/furious-hiv-hep-c-blood-5401444#yQteG4wKQ2JVoOGj.97 (Accessed 01/08/2016)

Daily Express (26 ^th March 2015) 'Whitewash' fury of blood scandal victims: £12m six-year inquiry only makes ONE suggestion. Available at: http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/566411/inquiry-blood-scandal-victims (Accessed 01/08/2016)

The National (26 ^th March 2015) Victims' fury over result of blood inquiry. Available at: http://www.thenational.scot/news/victims-fury-over-result-of-blood-inquiry.1456 (Accessed 01/08/2016)

Pink News (26 ^th March 2015) David Cameron apologises over HIV and hep C infected blood scandal. Available at: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/03/26/david-cameron-apologises-over-hiv-and-hep-c-infected-blood-scandal/ (Accessed 01/08/2016)

Independent (27 ^th March 2015) The NHS tainted blood scandal will not go away. Available at: http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/for-all-his-faults-russell-brand-is-utterly-sincere-something-politicians-should-emulate-10140020.html (Accessed 01/08/2016)