The Christie Charity
News story published 23 May 2024
The final report of the Infected Blood Inquiry was published on Monday 20 May 2024 and a webpage has now been set up by NHS England to help those affected find help and support.
The Inquiry’s detailed recommendations will be considered by a clinically led NHS England task and finish group, with next steps shared as soon as possible.
Blood is now distributed to NHS hospitals by NHS Blood and Transplant, which was established in 2005 to provide a national blood and transplantation service to the NHS.
Modern safety standards are extremely rigorous and NHS Blood and Transplant's services follow strict guidelines and testing to protect both donors and patients, and are subject to regular inspections by independent regulators.
If you are concerned about a possible hepatitis C infection, you can book a home NHS test online. The tests are free and confidential. To receive a self-testing kit which can be quickly dispatched to your home, visit the NHS England hepatitis C test page.
Hepatitis B is also linked to infected blood, this usually clears up on its own without treatment, but could develop into chronic hepatitis B. Patients can find out more information on the hepatitis B NHS information page.
HIV testing is also provided to anyone free of charge on the NHS. Home testing and home sampling kits are also available. You can find out more about HIV testing and the HIV testing services search tool on the NHS website.
Patients who want more details about the safety of blood from donations in England can find more information on the NHS Blood and Transplant website.