Infected Blood Inquiry & Contaminated Blood Scadal - Media Reporting Guide

What is the Infected Blood Inquiry?

The Inquiry is investigating how approximately 4,000 people in the UK, with Haemophilia, were infected with HIV and/or Hepatitis C in the 1970s and 1980s through plasma products known as Factor 8 (Most commonly written as Factor VIII). The infections happened as a result of being given a plasma-derived product known as "Factor VIII" (Factor VIII is NOT Blood or a Blood Transfusion), the Inquiry will also look at allegations of a cover-up among other issues.

Learn more about the Contaminated Blood Scandal | Infected Blood Inquiry Chronology

Why Now?

Going back to the 1980s there had been various calls for a UK Public Inquiry. They had all been unsuccessful. In 2017, a rejuvenated campaign of legal and political action, combined with national media campaigns and newly discovered evidence, led to the announcement of a Public Inquiry by Prime Minister Theresa May on 11th July 2017.

Learn more about the 2017 campaign which led to the Inquiry announcement

Watch the In Cold Blood documentary which chronicles the campaign

Interviews & Comment

Contact Factor 8 on 020 8123 3488.

If you are unable to get through during busy periods then please contact Bell Yard on 020 7936 2021. Bell Yard can also arrange comment from Collins Solicitors who are representing the majority of victims and families at the Inquiry. Collins are also the lead solicitors in the Contaminated Blood Products Group Legal Action.

If you would like to arrange to speak to victims or families impacted by the tainted blood scandal, this can be quickly facilitated via our private member’s support group, please contact us.

Images & Video Media Content For Reporting

Please Note: Factor VIII is NOT a Blood Transfusion

  • For accuracy, avoid using images or video of Blood Bags or Blood Transfusions. Factor VIII is often confused with blood because the event has become known as the "Contaminated Blood Scandal". Factor VIII is a pharmaceutical medicine, it is not blood and looks nothing like blood. It is also incorrect to say “blood” was imported from abroad, it wasn’t. Factor VIII was imported.

  • Factor VIII (the medicine which infected Haemophiliacs with HIV / Hepatitis) is a commercial medicine made by pharmaceutical companies. Factor VIII is not a blood transfusion, it does not look anything like blood.

IMAGES FROM FACTOR 8 (Attribution 4.0 International)

VIDEO FROM WELLCOME COLLECTION (Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0))

VIDEO FROM GETTY IMAGES (Licensing options via Getty Images)

IN COLD BLOOD DOCUMENTARY

Feature-length documentary broadcast on ITV in September 2020 - https://shockworker.tv/in-cold-blood-fulll-film