Peer calls for probe into UK blood 'disaster'

A British Labour peer will tomorrow call for an urgent public inquiry into the infecting of 4,000 haemophiliacs with life-threatening conditions by contaminated blood products.

Lord Morris of Manchester, President of the Haemophilia Society, is to make his plea in the House of Lords where he will be mounting a full-dress debate on the issue.

Lord Morris, who was the first ever Minister for the Disabled, said: ‘‘There have, quite properly, been inquiries into other health issues. But there has been, so far, no inquiry into the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS.

‘‘This is that 4,000 people with haemophilia have been infected with two life-threatening viruses, HIV and hepatitis C through the provision of contaminated NHS blood products. A quarter of these people have now died.’’

He added: ‘‘It is absolutely vital that a public inquiry is ordered into this very sad affair.’’