Overview of the Infected Blood Scandal

The infected blood scandal is considered the worst treatment disaster in NHS history, where thousands of people across the UK were infected with HIV and hepatitis C through contaminated blood products, primarily Factor VIII, used to treat haemophilia. The scandal spanned several decades, with victims including patients of all ages, many of whom were children receiving treatment through the NHS.

Treloar's School: Role and Involvement

Lord Mayor Treloar College (Treloar's School) in Alton, Hampshire, was a specialist boarding school for physically disabled children, many of whom had haemophilia. From the 1970s to the 1980s, the school hosted an on-site NHS haemophilia treatment centre, allowing students rapid access to medical care. While intended to improve quality of life, this setup became central to the scandal due to the large-scale use of contaminated blood products.

The school’s concentration of haemophiliac children made it a “unique opportunity” for medical research, as noted by Dr. Rosemary Biggs, a leading haemophilia expert at the time. This led to extensive clinical trials conducted without informed consent.

Medical Trials and Lack of Consent

Students at Treloar's were subjected to preventative treatment (prophylaxis) involving regular injections of Factor VIII, often at three to four times the normal dose, to study its effectiveness in reducing bleeds. These high-dose regimens significantly increased their exposure to contaminated products.

The Factor VIII used was imported from the US, sourced from high-risk donors such as prisoners, drug users, and sex workers, and was not heat-treated to kill viruses until the mid-1980s. Despite known risks, clinicians continued administering the product.

Former pupils reported being made to mix and inject the blood products themselves, describing the experience as “playing Russian roulette”. Crucially, neither the students nor their parents were informed of the risks or the experimental nature of the treatment.

Impact on Students and Survivors

Of the 122 haemophiliac pupils who attended Treloar's between 1974 and 1987, only around 30 are still alive. At least 75 died from HIV and hepatitis C infections contracted through treatment.

Survivors like Steve Nicholls, Richard Warwick, Ade Goodyear, and Gary Webster have lived with lifelong illness, stigma, and loss. Many lost siblings and friends to the same treatments. Some were told of their HIV diagnosis in a callous, impersonal manner, with little support or explanation.

The psychological and physical toll has been immense, with survivors describing how they “lost everything”—careers, relationships, and health.

Inquiry and Calls for Justice

The Infected Blood Inquiry, a public investigation, has examined the events at Treloar's in detail. Volume II of its report focuses specifically on the school, concluding that the children were treated as “objects for research” rather than patients.

Testimonies given to the Inquiry painted a harrowing picture of institutional failures, missed warnings, and a culture of secrecy. Evidence showed that medical staff were aware, or should have been aware, of the potential dangers of the blood products being used, yet crucial information was withheld from patients and their families. Documents revealed that some doctors viewed the Treloar’s pupils as a convenient, controlled group for experimentation, prioritizing research outcomes over individual welfare. Families have spoken of feeling deceived—trusting that their children were receiving the best available care, only to discover decades later that they had been part of unconsented medical studies. This betrayal of trust and duty of care has become a central point of outrage and sorrow for survivors and campaigners alike, who continue to press for transparency, formal accountability, and lasting recognition of the suffering endured.

Survivors and families have demanded truth, accountability, and a full apology from the NHS and government. While the school itself states it trusted the NHS clinicians and was not directly at fault, it has expressed deep sorrow and support for the campaign for justice.

Compensation schemes have been criticized for being slow and inadequate, with survivors like Steve Nicholls stating there has been “very little progress”. It is clear that the Government are dragging their heels. Meanwhile, many of the infected pupils are now dying from the effects of the infected blood, and one can only assume that leads leads to less payouts by the Government. Its up to you to make up your own mind on that. What other reason could there be to delay rightful payments?

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