AN inquiry into the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS, which affected Oxfordshire patients, will hear from its final expert today (Friday).

An estimated 2,400 people died after being infected with HIV and hepatitis C through contaminated blood products in the 1970s and 1980s in what has been labelled the worst treatment fiasco in the history of the NHS.

In 2017, up to 100 people treated at the Oxford Haemophilia Centre in the Churchill Hospital during those years were set to sue the Department for Health.

For more than 30 years, haemophiliacs who contracted HIV and hepatitis C from NHS-provided blood products have fought for justice, along with their families.

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There are 2,007 core participants in the inquiry who are infected or affected but research is ongoing to reach estimates for the total number of survivors.

Jonathan Van Tam, former deputy chief medical officer at the Department of Health & Social Care in England during the coronavirus pandemic, is the final expert to be called before the Infected Blood Inquiry today (Friday).

He is expected to be questioned about the process for ensuring public health and safety at the Department of Health, together with his early career interests in hepatitis and HIV.

Des Collins, senior partner at Collins Solicitors and solicitor to over 1500 victims, said: “Friday will be a bitter-sweet moment for my clients. Evidence hearings first started three and a half years ago and if the pandemic had not come along, would have long been concluded by now.

“Fortunately, the Inquiry has been painstakingly thorough in listening to victims, health experts, civil servants and politicians to build a comprehensive picture of what went on during the decades-long Infected Blood Scandal.

“Evidence has revealed a serious lack of political will to acknowledge the failings that took place, both at the time and subsequently.

“Professor Van Tam is likely to join the chorus of those who now say things should, and could, have been done differently over the past 40 years.

“For someone of his stature and public esteem to be lending his support to infected blood victims is highly symbolic and much welcomed.”

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The Government announced in August it hoped to be able to pay interim compensation payments £100,000 by the end of October, but campaigners say the majority of those affected have been ignored.

Bereaved relatives said the announcement fails to recognise most family members, who will miss out on this raft of interim payments.

Most of those involved had haemophilia and relied on regular injections of the US product Factor VIII to survive.

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This story was written by Anna Colivicchi, she joined the team this year and covers health stories for the Oxfordshire papers. 

Get in touch with her by emailing: Anna.colivicchi@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @AnnaColivicchi