Information for patients on the Infected Blood Inquiry
Potentially affected patients will likely already have been contacted by the blood service as part of the ‘lookback investigations’ which began in the mid-1990s following introduction of HIV and hepatitis C screening. If you were not contacted, but think you might be at risk, and received blood or blood products prior to 1992, please talk to a GP (a non-urgent telephone appointment would probably be best, or use the “Contact us online” option on our website). The GP can discuss your concerns and, if necessary, organise testing for hepatitis C and other infections.
If you are concerned that you may have caught an infection through blood transfusion your GP can check whether you have hepatitis C or HIV by arranging a simple blood test (if not already done). You can also get a simple home blood test for Hepatitis C: https://hepctest.nhs.uk/ It is very unlikely that anyone who has HIV following blood transfusions in the 1970s and 1980s is not already diagnosed and aware of their infection.
If you are found to have hepatitis C, your GP can refer you to a hospital specialist team who can give you tablets that clear the infection in more than 90% of people. More information is available:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hepatitis-c-patient-re-engagement-exercise
If you were found to have HIV, your GP can arrange for referral for specialist care and treatment. If you are still concerned that you may have received blood or blood products which were infected, please go to the Infected Blood Inquiry (IBI) website to find information on what to do next at:
https://www.infectedbloodinquiry.org.uk/
You will need to obtain a copy of your medical records from the hospital (NOT your GP – your GP will not have these records) where your treatment took place before contacting the blood services. Hospitals record the reference numbers of any blood transfused which can then be used to track whether these units were screened for the presence of viruses. There is advice on how to obtain your medical records on the IBI website:
https://www.infectedbloodinquiry.org.uk/requesting-medical-evidence
NHS Blood and Transplant, the English blood service, do not hold medical records or details of which patients have received transfusions. The blood services will only hold information if you have previously been a blood donor or if you have been contacted in the past as part of a transfusion investigation.
NHS Blood and Transplant can be contacted on: 0300 123 23 23.