Latest news with #hepatitisC
Scottish Sun
27-05-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
I had no idea I had hep C for 40 years – my GP failed to tell me I tested positive as it slowly destroyed my life
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FRANK Jamieson says his GP practice failed to tell him he had a potentially deadly virus - more than 20 years after he tested positive. 'It has ruined my life", the 58-year-old, from Inverclyde, in Scotland, said. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Frank believes hepatitis C might have affected his ability to have children Credit: SWNS "I have suffered from depression for a long time and have lost everything". Frank was only told last October that he had hepatitis C, which he likely contracted 40 years ago during a leg operation after a road accident in 1984. Hep C is a blood-borne virus which, left untreated, can cause liver cancer and liver failure. It usually displays no symptoms until the virus damages the liver enough to cause liver disease, at which point it can cause fatigue and difficulty concentrating. 'My health was so bad, and I had no idea why," Frank said. "It turned out they were all symptoms of hep C,' he added. It is also linked to cardiovascular disease, mental health issues, kidney disease and musculoskeletal pain. Frank's infection is part of the wider contaminated blood scandal, which saw thousands in Scotland and the UK infected with hepatitis C and HIV from NHS blood products in the 1970s and 80s. He later discovered his GP surgery, Ardgowan Medical Practice in Greenock, knew he tested positive back in 2002, with results confirmed in January 2003. 'The surgery had my results but they never passed them on,' Frank said. Infected Blood Inquiry: Police should look into prosecutions says Labour MP 'After all those years of going to the doctor, and that information being on my file, they are blaming me.' Frank's positive test came just as he and his now wife were preparing for another round of IVF. 'I had my blood tests taken in late 2002 because my now wife and I were set to go through another round of IVF,' he said. 'We had two unsuccessful tries on the NHS and were going to pay for a third.' But that Christmas, both lost their jobs when the company closed, halting their plans. 'Our lives fell apart. We still got married, but we couldn't afford the IVF, so we weren't able to try again,' Frank explained. What is the infected blood scandal? More than 30,000 people in the UK were infected with HIV and hepatitis C after being given contaminated blood products in the 1970s and 1980s. As many as 140,000 bereaved parents, children and siblings of victims may also be able to claim compensation in their own right Two main groups of NHS patients were affected by what has been called the biggest treatment disaster in the history of the NHS. Firstly, haemophiliacs - and those with similar disorders - who have a rare genetic condition which means their blood does not clot properly. People with haemophilia A have a shortage of a clotting agent called Factor VIII, while people with haemophilia B do not have enough Factor IX. In the 1970s, a new treatment using donated human blood plasma was developed to replace these clotting agents. But entire batches were contaminated with deadly viruses. After being given the infected treatments, about 1,250 people in the UK with bleeding disorders went on to develop both HIV and hepatitis C, including 380 children. About two-thirds later died of Aids-related illnesses. Some unintentionally gave HIV to their partners. Another 2,400 to 5,000 people developed hepatitis C on its own, which can cause cirrhosis and liver cancer. It is difficult to know the exact number of people infected with hepatitis C, partly because it can take decades for symptoms to appear. A second group of patients were given contaminated blood transfusions after childbirth, surgery or other medical treatment between 1970 and 1991. The inquiry estimates that between 80 and 100 of these people were infected with HIV, and about 27,000 with hepatitis C. In total, it is thought about 2,900 people have died. He added: 'Hepatitis C can cause infertility. We would have known that then if we'd had the results.' The practice told Frank patients had to call within seven days for test results - but they have no record of him ever making that call. 'I asked them, where were the results all those years? Were they sitting in a drawer until I phoned?' he added. The virus caused Frank severe health problems, including nerve and joint pain and Raynaud's phenomenon - symptoms that appeared five years ago. 'I have been suicidal' Fortunately, Frank, who worked as an engineer until ill health forced him to give up work, is now free of hep C after undergoing anti-viral treatment. He is now under the care of the SAMH charity (Scottish Action for Mental Health) as well as the NHS's local community mental health team. They are helping him manage his depression and ongoing health challenges. 'I have been suicidal,' he said. 'Right now, I don't want to be here.' Frank hopes to raise awareness so others in Inverclyde don't suffer the same fate. 'There might be other people out there who have missed blood test results, who have hep C or something else and who don't know,' he warned. Now free of the virus after antiviral treatment, Frank is determined to hold his GP practice accountable. 'I want justice. I want to be heard, and I want Ardgowan Medical Practice to take responsibility for what happened,' he said. His complaints to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman were rejected due to the passage of time. But Frank is pursuing support through the Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme - a body that helps people infected by NHS blood products with compensation and support. 'My journey is just beginning,' he said. Ardgowan Medical Practice declined to comment when approached by the Greenock Telegraph. The Sun has also contacted the Practice, who again, declined to comment.
The Sun
27-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
I had no idea I had hep C for 40 years – my GP failed to tell me I tested positive as it slowly destroyed my life
FRANK Jamieson says his GP practice failed to tell him he had a potentially deadly virus - more than 20 years after he tested positive. 'It has ruined my life", the 58-year-old, from Inverclyde, in Scotland, said. 1 "I have suffered from depression for a long time and have lost everything". Frank was only told last October that he had hepatitis C, which he likely contracted 40 years ago during a leg operation after a road accident in 1984. Hep C is a blood-borne virus which, left untreated, can cause liver cancer and liver failure. It usually displays no symptoms until the virus damages the liver enough to cause liver disease, at which point it can cause fatigue and difficulty concentrating. 'My health was so bad, and I had no idea why," Frank said. "It turned out they were all symptoms of hep C,' he added. It is also linked to cardiovascular disease, mental health issues, kidney disease and musculoskeletal pain. Frank's infection is part of the wider contaminated blood scandal, which saw thousands in Scotland and the UK infected with hepatitis C and HIV from NHS blood products in the 1970s and 80s. He later discovered his GP surgery, Ardgowan Medical Practice in Greenock, knew he tested positive back in 2002, with results confirmed in January 2003. 'The surgery had my results but they never passed them on,' Frank said. Infected Blood Inquiry: Police should look into prosecutions says Labour MP 'After all those years of going to the doctor, and that information being on my file, they are blaming me.' Frank's positive test came just as he and his now wife were preparing for another round of IVF. 'I had my blood tests taken in late 2002 because my now wife and I were set to go through another round of IVF,' he said. 'We had two unsuccessful tries on the NHS and were going to pay for a third.' But that Christmas, both lost their jobs when the company closed, halting their plans. 'Our lives fell apart. We still got married, but we couldn't afford the IVF, so we weren't able to try again,' Frank explained. What is the infected blood scandal? More than 30,000 people in the UK were infected with HIV and hepatitis C after being given contaminated blood products in the 1970s and 1980s. As many as 140,000 bereaved parents, children and siblings of victims may also be able to claim compensation in their own right Two main groups of NHS patients were affected by what has been called the biggest treatment disaster in the history of the NHS. Firstly, haemophiliacs - and those with similar disorders - who have a rare genetic condition which means their blood does not clot properly. People with haemophilia A have a shortage of a clotting agent called Factor VIII, while people with haemophilia B do not have enough Factor IX. In the 1970s, a new treatment using donated human blood plasma was developed to replace these clotting agents. But entire batches were contaminated with deadly viruses. After being given the infected treatments, about 1,250 people in the UK with bleeding disorders went on to develop both HIV and hepatitis C, including 380 children. About two-thirds later died of Aids-related illnesses. Some unintentionally gave HIV to their partners. Another 2,400 to 5,000 people developed hepatitis C on its own, which can cause cirrhosis and liver cancer. It is difficult to know the exact number of people infected with hepatitis C, partly because it can take decades for symptoms to appear. A second group of patients were given contaminated blood transfusions after childbirth, surgery or other medical treatment between 1970 and 1991. The inquiry estimates that between 80 and 100 of these people were infected with HIV, and about 27,000 with hepatitis C. In total, it is thought about 2,900 people have died. He added: 'Hepatitis C can cause infertility. We would have known that then if we'd had the results.' The practice told Frank patients had to call within seven days for test results - but they have no record of him ever making that call. 'I asked them, where were the results all those years? Were they sitting in a drawer until I phoned?' he added. The virus caused Frank severe health problems, including nerve and joint pain and Raynaud's phenomenon - symptoms that appeared five years ago. 'I have been suicidal' Fortunately, Frank, who worked as an engineer until ill health forced him to give up work, is now free of hep C after undergoing anti-viral treatment. He is now under the care of the SAMH charity (Scottish Action for Mental Health) as well as the NHS's local community mental health team. They are helping him manage his depression and ongoing health challenges. 'I have been suicidal,' he said. 'Right now, I don't want to be here.' Frank hopes to raise awareness so others in Inverclyde don't suffer the same fate. 'There might be other people out there who have missed blood test results, who have hep C or something else and who don't know,' he warned. Now free of the virus after antiviral treatment, Frank is determined to hold his GP practice accountable. 'I want justice. I want to be heard, and I want Ardgowan Medical Practice to take responsibility for what happened,' he said. His complaints to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman were rejected due to the passage of time. But Frank is pursuing support through the Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme - a body that helps people infected by NHS blood products with compensation and support. 'My journey is just beginning,' he said. Ardgowan Medical Practice declined to comment when approached by the Greenock Telegraph.
The Herald Scotland
27-05-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Man with Hep C virus not told for 20 years he was infected
Our sister title the Greenock Telegraph reports how the 58-year-old was told in October that he had hepatitis C and that it was likely he'd had the virus for 40 years as a result of an operation in 1984. But Frank said he later discovered that his GP surgery, Ardgowan Medical Practice, knew he'd tested positive for the virus back in 2002 – results he says were confirmed in January of the following year. Frank Jamieson at Ardgowan Medical Practice (Image: George Munro) Frank, who lives in Mallard Crescent, told the Greenock Telegraph that after making a complaint to the practice, he was told that his test results were never passed on to him because he didn't call to get them. Now caught up in the long-running contaminated blood scandal, Frank says he wants to speak out now in case there are others in Inverclyde in the same position. He was finally told the news of his positive 'hep C' test last October after years of health problems. "It has ruined my life,' he said. 'I have suffered from depression for a long time and have lost everything. 'My health was so bad, and I had no idea why. It turned out they were all symptoms of hep C.' Frank is now under the care of the SAMH charity (Scottish Action for Mental Health) as well as the NHS's local community mental health team. Read more health news in The Herald: 'I have been suicidal,' he said. 'Right now, I don't want to be here. 'I want justice. I want to be heard, and I want Ardgowan Medical Practice to take responsibility for what happened. 'The surgery had my results but they never passed them on. 'But after all those years of going to the doctor, and that information being on my file, they are blaming me.' The hepatitis C virus can cause chronic liver disease, potentially leading to cirrhosis, liver cancer or liver failure if untreated. Fortunately Frank, who worked as an engineer until ill health forced him to give up work, is now free of hep C after undergoing anti-viral treatment. He says that after staff at the IRH diagnosed him as having the virus in October, he was later contacted by Ardgowan Medical Practice, who produced positive blood test results dated January 6, 2003. Frank said: "I had my blood tests taken in late 2002 because my now wife and I were set to go through another round of IVF. "We had two unsuccessful tries on the NHS and were going to pay for a third. "But that Christmas we both lost our jobs with Fullarton Electronics when they closed down. 'Our lives fell apart. All our plans were halted. We still got married, but we couldn't afford the IVF, so we weren't able to try again. 'Hepatitis C can cause infertility. We would have known that then if we'd had the results.' Frank did visit his doctor a year later, but says he was told nothing about the positive hep C test. (Image: George Munro) And five years ago his health began to deteriorate rapidly, with severe nerve and joint pain. He also began showing signs of Raynaud's phenomenon, which causes cold and numb fingers and is a visible symptom of hepatitis C. Medics now believe Frank contracted hepatitis C during an operation to correct a broken leg he suffered in a road accident in 1984. 'I've had hep C for 40 years,' he said. 'The accident happened on a bad winter's day, at the Tuck Shop, on the road outside the Ardgowan Practice, unbelievably. "My leg didn't set right and I had to go in for an operation. 'Now I find I'm a victim of the contaminated blood scandal. But my journey is just beginning.' (Image: George Munro) Frank has shown the Tele a letter he received from Ardgowan Medical Practice, responding to his complaint, in which they told him that the procedure for blood test results is the same today as it was in 2003 – that patients should phone within seven days of the test to find out the results. The practice also told Frank it has no record of a phone call from him asking for the results. The Tele has also seen a letter from the practice in response to a second complaint made by Frank in which they say that unless he specifically asked about the blood test during an appointment, a GP would not check his records. He said: "I want to speak out about this because I have nothing left to lose. "I feel that Ardgowan Practice should be more accountable and take responsibility for what happened. "There is no way they should not have passed those results on to me. I asked them, where were the results all those years? Were they sitting in a drawer until I phoned? 'This has destroyed my life. For 20 years it was known I had hep C. "I want to make sure that this never happens to anyone else. If anything good is to come out of this, it is that people will be aware of what happened to me. "There might be other people out there who have missed blood test results, who have hep C or something else and who don't know. "I also fear that if I was infected by contaminated blood at the IRH in 1984 there might be other people out there in the same situation who don't know about it." (Image: George Munro) In a further blow, Frank says he has been told by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman that it will not investigate his case because of the passage of time. Frank says he is now hoping for justice through the Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme (SIBSS) after facing a race against time to get his compensation claim in. The SIBSS provides support to people in Scotland who contracted hepatitis C and/or HIV from NHS blood, blood products, or tissue. Ardgowan Medical Practice decline to comment when approached by the Telegraph.
Daily Record
27-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Man with deadly Hep C virus not told after testing positive 20 years ago
Frank Jamieson likely had hepatitis C for 40 years despite only being told that he had the virus in October. A man says his GP failed to tell him he had a potentially deadly virus - over 20 years after he tested positive. Frank Jamieson has been left feeling suicidal following years of deteriorating health, the cause of which was a mystery until recently. In October the 58-year-old was told that he had hepatitis C and that it was likely he'd had the virus for 40 years as a result of an operation in 1984. However, Frank later discovered that his GP surgery, Ardgowan Medical Practice, knew he'd tested positive for the virus back in 2002 - results he says were confirmed in January of the following year. Frank, from Greenock, said that after making a complaint to the practice, he was told that his test results were never passed on to him because he didn't call to get them. Caught up in the long-running contaminated blood scandal, Frank says he wants to speak out now in case there are others in Inverclyde in the same position. He was finally told the news of his positive 'hep C' test last October after years of health problems. Now he is determined to see his GP surgery held accountable. He said: "It has ruined my life. I have suffered from depression for a long time and have lost everything. "My health was so bad, and I had no idea why. It turned out they were all symptoms of hep C." Frank is now under the care of the SAMH charity (Scottish Action for Mental Health) as well as the NHS's local community mental health team. "I have been suicidal," he said. "Right now, I don't want to be here. "I want justice. I want to be heard, and I want Ardgowan Medical Practice to take responsibility for what happened. "The surgery had my results but they never passed them on. But after all those years of going to the doctor, and that information being on my file, they are blaming me." The hepatitis C virus can cause chronic liver disease, potentially leading to cirrhosis, liver cancer or liver failure if untreated. Fortunately Frank, who worked as an engineer until ill health forced him to give up work, is now free of hep C after undergoing anti-viral treatment. He says that after staff at the IRH diagnosed him as having the virus in October, he was later contacted by Ardgowan Medical Practice, who produced positive blood test results dated January 6, 2003. Frank said: "I had my blood tests taken in late 2002 because my now wife and I were set to go through another round of IVF. We had two unsuccessful tries on the NHS and were going to pay for a third. "But that Christmas we both lost our jobs with Fullarton Electronics when they closed down. Our lives fell apart. All our plans were halted. We still got married, but we couldn't afford the IVF, so we weren't able to try again. Hepatitis C can cause infertility. We would have known that then if we'd had the results." Frank did visit his doctor a year later, but says he was told nothing about the positive hep C test. And five years ago his health began to deteriorate rapidly, with severe nerve and joint pain. He also began showing signs of Raynaud's phenomenon, which causes cold and numb fingers and is a visible symptom of hepatitis C. Medics now believe Frank contracted hepatitis C during an operation to correct a broken leg he suffered in a road accident in 1984. "I've had hep C for 40 years," he said. "The accident happened on a bad winter's day, at the Tuck Shop, on the road outside the Ardgowan Practice, unbelievably. "My leg didn't set right and I had to go in for an operation. Now I find I'm a victim of the contaminated blood scandal. But my journey is just beginning." Frank showed a letter he received from Ardgowan Medical Practice, responding to his complaint, in which they told him that the procedure for blood test results is the same today as it was in 2003 - that patients should phone within seven days of the test to find out the results. The practice also told Frank it has no record of a phone call from him asking for the results. He also showed a letter from the practice in response to a second complaint made by Frank in which they say that unless he specifically asked about the blood test during an appointment, a GP would not check his records. He said: "I want to speak out about this because I have nothing left to lose. I feel that Ardgowan Practice should be more accountable and take responsibility for what happened. There is no way they should not have passed those results on to me. I asked them, where were the results all those years? Were they sitting in a drawer until I phoned? "This has destroyed my life. For 20 years it was known I had hep C. I want to make sure that this never happens to anyone else. If anything good is to come out of this, it is that people will be aware of what happened to me. "There might be other people out there who have missed blood test results, who have hep C or something else and who don't know. I also fear that if I was infected by contaminated blood at the IRH in 1984 there might be other people out there in the same situation who don't know about it." In a further blow, because of the passage of time, Frank says he has been told by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman that it will not investigate his case. Frank is now hoping for justice through the Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme (SIBSS) after facing a race against time to get his compensation claim in. The SIBSS provides support to people in Scotland who contracted hepatitis C and/or HIV from NHS blood, blood products, or tissue. Ardgowan Medical Practice decline to comment when approached. 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BBC News
21-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Somerset infected blood victim critical of compensation delay
A woman who contracted hepatitis C after being given an infected blood transfusion has said it is "hard to keep going" while she waits for government Busby, 74, who lives in Street, Somerset, has accused the government of "apathy" over its treatment of infected blood is still waiting for details of the compensation she will receive more than a year after the end of a public inquiry and the government's announcement of a compensation government has offered its sympathies to Ms Busby and said it would work "at pace" to ensure compensation was paid. It is thought 30,000 patients in the UK were infected with HIV or hepatitis B and C after being treated with a contaminated blood clotting product or given a blood transfusion in the 1970s and is thought around 2,900 people have died as a result of the Office Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds said earlier this month it was "profoundly unsatisfactory" that just 106 final compensation awards have been paid, a year after the damning report into the scandal was Busby contracted hepatitis C after a blood transfusion in 1971, following complications from previously said she felt like her life "had been stolen" by her illness and ongoing battle for weeks of the May 2024 announcement, Ms Busby received an interim payment but has not heard anything more or received any further compensation. 'Tiny burning hot pins' Ms Busby said: "I think it's awful, cold-hearted, shocking and a Labour government was really saying it wanted to help. And then they got into power and it's hardly spoken of."I can't plan anything. I've got things that I'm doing that I'm paying for that and I'm relying on that money to come in. So it's quite scary for me. And it's difficult, very difficult."I've got all these things that have happened to me, the worst one is peripheral neuropathy and it's like thousands of tiny burning hot pins being rammed into your feet and your legs 24/7."I take drugs like fentanyl. I don't want to. I want to be alive and alert - and you're not really, you're not your full self at all." Last month Ms Busby's MP, Sarah Dyke raised her case in the House of Commons."Her case is truly heart-breaking, so what assurance can the minister provide to people like Hazel that they will soon be supported?" she Mr Thomas-Symonds said: "I express my sympathy and, I am sure, that of the whole house to Hazel in respect of what she has been through. "The assurance I give is that this government will act at pace. That is what we did in putting the first set of regulations in place by 24 August last year and by putting the second set of regulations in place by 31 March this year. "I continue to stand ready to help and support IBCA (Infected Blood Compensation Authority), which is operationally independent, in any way that I can to speed up the payments.' In a further statement to the House of Commons on 14 May, Mr Thomas-Symonds said payments totalling more than £96 million had so far been made by the said the IBCA plans to contact an average of 100 people every week to begin their claims."I recognise that for many in the community, the government's actions come after decades have passed,' he said."There is nothing that can put right the damage done by inaction on the part of multiple previous governments, and it is not my intention for this statement to diminish that. "My priority now is focusing on delivering meaningful change to ensure that the scandal of infected blood, among many other scandals, is never allowed to happen again.'
