The UK Infected Blood Inquiry Hearings: Monday 24th February – Friday 28th February, 2020

On Monday, February 24th, 2020, the Infected Blood Inquiry will resume public hearings in London.

The sessions will hear evidence from a number of experts who have been appointed by the Infected Blood Inquiry. This is the first time that the evidence of the Inquiry’s experts will have been heard.

The schedule for the week is as follows:

Monday, 24th February – Inquiry Intermediaries & Psychosocial Experts
Tuesday, 25th February – Psychosocial Experts
Wednesday, 26th February – Hepatitis Experts
Thursday, 27th February – HIV Experts
Friday, 28th February – Bleeding Disorders Experts

The hearings will take place at: The Infected Blood Inquiry, Fleetbank House, 2-6 Salisbury Square, London, EC4Y 8AE.

Des Collins, Senior Partner at Collins Solicitors representing over 1,400 people in relation to the Infected Blood Inquiry, comments:

“It is encouraging that the Infected Blood Inquiry now moves to the next stage but, it is nevertheless increasingly disappointing that, on any basis, overall progress since the Inquiry was announced two and a half years ago appears slow, and it is now running some 18 months behind schedule.

The evidence which the Inquiry will receive next week is important but we must always remember that the fundamental goal of this Inquiry is to get to the truth about what happened in the 1970s and 80s and why. These particular expert hearings, whilst necessary, will not move that issue forward.

Meanwhile, the victims of this scandal continue to suffer – physically and financially – and to die. Despite that, the Government continues to drag its heels on the issue of compensation for those infected and affected.

We again call on the Government to accept responsibility for its role in this tragedy, the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS, and start a serious discussion around compensation because as it knows the Inquiry cannot determine civil or criminal liability – nor can it award compensation”

Registration for the hearings is at 9:30 am each day, with evidence sessions beginning at 10:30 am. The media is welcome to attend but should observe the protocols outlined by the Infected Blood Inquiry. You can register to attend here. https://www.infectedbloodinquiry.org.uk/hearing-response-form

The inquiry has published a series of experts’ reports in advance of the hearings which can be accessed through this link. https://www.infectedbloodinquiry.org.uk/news/expert-reports-published

Collins Solicitors media contacts:

Des Collins, Senior Partner, Collins Solicitors, T) 01923 223 324, M) 07831 522 540 dcollins@collinslaw.co.uk

Danielle Holliday, Partner, Collins Solicitors, T) 01923 223 324, M) 07540 531 753 dholliday@collinslaw.co.uk

Will Hulbert, PR, Hulbert & Co., T) 01603 431 936, M) 07774 108 699
will@hulbertandco.com