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I’m not talking about wormholes, intergalactic travel or alien life. Instead, I am referring to time:

Let me take you back to the 1970’s…
In the music charts we had David Bowie, Elton John and some of the great disco classics on vinyl. Fashion saw never-to- be-forgotten platform shoes, mini skirts and the flower power peace loving Hippies. Over 35 years ago a DHSS Expert Group on the Treatment of Haemophilia recommended that the NHS should be self-sufficient in blood products as soon as possible. The huge risk of Hepatitis in treatment was known.

Funds were assigned to this but they failed, miserably, to be used and thus began the destruction of the innocent lives of thousands due to maladministration and false promises Britain did not become self sufficient. Indeed, it is something that even to this day has still not been achieved.

Danielle Cohen: Immigration expert

Fast forward to the 1980’s….
We had Band-Aid at number one with Do They Know it’s Christmas? We listened to Madonna, Kylie and Sister Sledge on our cassette walkmans. The world’s eyes focused on Ethiopia while power suits, Yuppies and big hair were symbols of the era. One of the most memorable public figures was the then occupant of number 10 Downing Street, Margaret Thatcher. HIV/AIDS brought the world to its knees through fear and 1200 haemophiliacs became infected while thousands more were also infected with what we now call Hepatitis C. Terror was felt across the globe as our community was, along with others, so dramatically hit. We listened in total disbelief to the impact it was having as each day saw more and more deaths. We, the patients, were put through undignified procedures and questions, test after test, as we watched our friends and loved ones leave us forever.

Skip into the 1990’s…
Take That were the boy kings of pop with record CD sales. Erasure went all ABBA-esque while Michael Jackson made us think about the planet with Earth Song. Rock idol Freddie Mercury took his final bow. In 1992 US Senator Mike Huckabee made this statement: ‘steps should be taken that would isolate carriers of this plague...’ He was referring to carriers of HIV; the virus that can lead to AIDS. He went on to say: ‘It is the first time in civilisation in which the carriers of a genuine plague have not been isolated....”. The country was now under the power of New Labour and Tony Blair’s government would make even more promises and apparently learn more lessons. Meanwhile as still more people died from multiple viruses, vCJD was being injected into the veins of Haemophiliacs. The nation lost their Queen of Hearts but many lost much, much more.

Leap forward to 2007…
Beyonce, Mika and the newly regrouped Take That topped the music charts once again. Our new government and official bodies confidently told us that even more lessons have been learned and we have nothing to worry about. In fact, during his first speech as Prime Minister in June last year, Gordon Brown said:
“I heard the need for change.” He told us that he “…will continue to listen and learn from the British people to deliver changes to the country”. He then added that his government would also change to build people’s trust in the government and change to protect and extend the British way of life…

So here it is: Happy 2008…
As I sit here and write this article, January not only deeply concerns me but the shiver sent up my spine is one I have become all too familiar with: The gut wrenching feeling that I get when I hear about our safety and lives, even after all these years are still being put on the line. The headlines and news from the first month of this year outline more betrayal and neglect:

• January 1st, 2008: Britain’s biggest blood processing lab is filthy and could pose a danger to patients, a leaked document reveals.Health inspectors blasted the Government-owned Bio Products Laboratory after exposing 90 “major failures”.

• January 3rd, 2008: Japan PM apologises for Tainted Blood

• January 10th, 2008: More Britons in blood scandal 18 British soldiers wounded in action are facing HIV fears after it emerged they may have been given US front-line contaminated blood

• January 11th, 2008: Shanghai parents to sue for tainted blood

• January 12th, 2008: 31 Australian troops wounded in Afghanistan are urgently being checked to see whether they have been exposed to contaminated blood.

• January 26th, 2008: The NHS has owned up to seven new breaches of security involving patient details. Health secretary faces questions over campaign donations.

A statement published from Alan Johnson’s campaign office said... “So to be clear, there was never any wrongdoing” a sentence used far too conveniently over the years with the notion that it makes everything alright.

These do not inspire confidence do they? I feel obliged to ask is this care or selective culling? Finally at the time this goes to print, Lord Archer’s Public inquiry team have been silent since 19th of September 2007 with no formal statement or reason. The trust we gave them and the hope they gave us in moving closer to justice has gradually dwindled. Here we are again left wondering what will come of us.

Are you ready to step into the future with us at Tainted Blood? PN

By Mark Ward of the Tainted Blood team. www.taintedblood.info