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Collins Solicitors - Media Statement. 16 July 202

Collins Solicitors, legal advisor to over 1500 people affected by the contaminated blood scandal, keenly awaits the next fortnight of hearings in the Infected Blood Inquiry given the important figures due to give evidence.

The schedule is as follows:

• 19-21 July: Dr Diana Walford (Principal and Senior Medical Officer roles 1979-83; 1983-86; 1987-89 and other Department of Health and Social Security roles)

• 22-23 July: Lord Simon Glenarthur (Parliamentary Secretary of State for Health and Social Security 1983-85)

• 27-29 July: Lord Kenneth Clarke (Minister of State for Health 1982-85 and Secretary of State for Health 1988-90).

Des Collins, Senior Partner at Collins Solicitor, comments:

“These witnesses are central to our understanding of what went on during the critical period in the 1980s when the Government should have been responding to the AIDS crisis and considering the implications for those receiving blood products.

We believe these individuals did know and appreciate the risks but were slow to act. However, a clear account of who knew what, when and how this impacted decisions made at the time, has never been forthcoming. There has been a lot of buck-passing and hiding behind Government protocol until now.

Our clients have waited many years for Lord Clarke, in particular, to explain his actions – he has never given evidence on this matter before and always deflected questions by referencing advice given by Lord Glenarthur and other civil servants.

Dr Diana Walford refused to give oral evidence to the Penrose Inquiry but again her knowledge and recollections of what happened at the time are key to understanding the history of the infected blood scandal. It is important that she shares these openly and in detail.

I cannot emphasise enough what a massive moment this is for my clients as, finally, we may begin to get closer to the truth and the heart of the problem which led to the suffering of so many.

It is, of course, only right these key witnesses have been called to give evidence and the Inquiry is to be commended for bringing them to the stand.”

ENDS

Media enquiries

Bell Yard Communications 020 7936 2021 BellYard@bell-yard.com

Melanie Riley 07775 591244 melanie@bell-yard.com

Louise Beeson 07768 956997 louise@bell-yard.com

Notes for editors

The Infected Blood Inquiry chaired by Sir Brian Langstaff, is the UK’s largest ever statutory inquiry, established to investigate how men women and children were given infected blood and blood products by the NHS from the 1970s. Hearings can be attended in person or followed live on the Infected Blood Inquiry website/YouTube channel.

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