The son of an infected blood scandal victim has described an apology issued by the Oxford University Hospitals trust as "rubbish" and "almost every other sentence" as "insulting".
Director of non-profit 'Factor 8', Jason Evans, was four when his father Jonathan died after being infected with HIV and hepatitis C at the Oxford Haemophilia Centre, amid a nationwide scandal between the 1970s and early 1990s in which more than 30,000 people were administered with deadly viruses.
A 2,527-page report from the Infected Blood Inquiry, published on Monday, found in the scandal a “catalogue of systemic, collective and individual failures” and a “pervasive” cover-up to hide the truth, mentioning Oxford several times by name.
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The report signals the conclusion of the inquiry almost seven years after it was announced in 2017 by then-prime minister Theresa May.
People living with an HIV infection as a result of the scandal could receive between £2.2 million and £2.6 million, following the conclusions.
Mr Evans said: "At some point in everybody's life you get a prescription for a drug and trust it will do the thing the doctor tells you it will do.
"My dad was prescribed this product.
"He took it home and used it many times not understanding what clinicians knew - that it was made by mixing together 10s of thousands of plasma donations in the US and then turning that into a white powder."
The Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust responded to the infected blood report on Tuesday (May 21) this week saying it was "deeply sorry for the historic treatment of patients with infected blood products" and "we have already learned important lessons from what happened".
Speaking of the apology, Mr Evans said: "I think it's rubbish.
"Almost every other sentence is insulting in some way.
"The apology says the organisation is 'deeply sorry' for the historic treatment - but this is very current. The word historic is very offensive to people living with it.
"There is no recognition here at all of anything the inquiry has actually said such as of people being used as objects of research.
"It's more like a 'sorry to hear that happened' kind of an apology."
The inquiry report adds: "Haemophilia centre directors (according to Dr Charles Rizza, the director of the Oxford Haemophilia Reference Centre) knew there was a real risk that AIDS could be transmitted by an infectious agent carried by blood products."
MPs in Oxford and across the county have spoken out in the wake of the conclusions.
Anneliese Dodds, MP for Oxford East, said: “The infected blood scandal is an appalling injustice that has left victims denied justice for decades.
"It is troubling that Oxford played a role in this tragic affair.
"However, I am very proud of the people from Oxford who have campaigned for so many years for justice.
"The Government must urgently act. Victims have waited far too long for a proper apology and final compensation scheme. They should wait no longer."
Layla Moran, MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, added: "I pay tribute to the survivors, families, campaigners and journalists who have fought so long and so hard for justice.
“I met a woman recently who told me she has totally lost all faith in politicians. When I asked her why she told me it was because her husband had been infected with HIV with contaminated blood.
“She told me it wasn’t about the money, as welcome as that would be. It was about accountability and justice. When the report was released I thought of her and the thousands like her.
“This landmark report must lead to justice for all those impacted. Full compensation must be paid without any more delay and ensure that nothing like this can ever happen again.”
Two Conservative MPs in Oxfordshire have also responded to the report as Rishi Sunak issued an apology saying he has an “enormous amount of sympathy” with calls to establish a “duty of candour” on public officials in the wake of the inquiry report.
Mr Sunak also said the NHS “failed” people and “let them down”, adding: “It’s right that they are held accountable for that and learn the lessons.”
Victoria Prentis, MP for Banbury, said: "I welcome the Prime Minister's apology regarding the infected blood scandal, as well as the apology of our local NHS Trust. Acknowledging the decades-long moral failure is extremely significant.
"As MP for Banbury, I have spoken to constituents who have been affected directly themselves or have supported a loved one as they deal with the challenges of the scandal. It is clearly important that we prioritise accountability, transparency, and support for all those affected."
Robert Courts, MP for Witney, added: "I am pleased that the Prime Minster has this week apologised on behalf of past Governments of all colours, for the decades of suffering and injustices inflicted on the victims of this scandal.
"The stories we have heard have been absolutely heart-breaking - it is right that we now taken seriously the recommendations set out in the Infected Blood Inquiry Report by committing to a plan to deliver compensation to victims, their families as well as the estates of the deceased victims who had not yet been recognised."
The OUH trust did not wish to provide further comment on Mr Evans' criticisms.
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