"We feel failed..." We hear from former students at East Hampshire school who were infected in blood scandal.
Just 30 of the 122 pupils with haemophilia that attended Treloar's in Alton between 1970 and 1987 are still alive.
Last updated 21st May 2024
Former students at Treloar's in Alton have told us that they feel "failed" and "groomed" by the school, following the publication of the final report into the Infected Blood Scandal.
"It is as wrong today as it was in the 1970s and the 1980s"
The probe has found that children were used as "objects for research" while the risks of contracting hepatitis and HIV were ignored at the specialist school where boys were treated for haemophilia.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called the exploitation of children at Treloar's a source of "eternal shame" that is "hard to even comprehend" in a statement to the House of Commons on Monday.
Just 30 of the 122 pupils with haemophilia that attended Treloar's between 1970 and 1987 are still alive.
Steve Nicholls went to the school. Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio, Mr Nicholls said "Treloar's were acting in full loco parentis but we feel failed by Treloar's.
Our parents were given no choices about our treatment regimes, our products of treatment. We feel that we were groomed into just holding our arms out as and when required to have injections... purely for research purposes."
"The research on children.... it is as wrong today as it was in the 1970s and the 1980s."
When asked what his message to the East Hampshire today, Mr Nicholls said "We are angry with Treloar's because Treloar's seem to be refusing to accept any responsibility, any liability. I would urge them to take that report on board, to read it and to come back to us again with a full apology."
Gary Webster went to the school and became infected with Heptatitis B, C and HIV.
"It completely trashed my working life."
"They (Treloar's) can't say they didn't know and they can't say they weren't involved. They were involved, we have proof to say that they were involved.
"I'd like them to stand up, just like the Prime Minister has done, and accept some responsibility. Some, it's not all their fault, but some responsibility."
Owen Saville was infected with Hepatitis B and C but did not officially find out about the latter for 16 years.
"To the best of my knowledge my mother never talked about consent with me and I was never asked for it.
"I was one of the first cohort to go yellow - so in 1975 I went down with full-blown Hepatitis B, and it was just brushed aside really. Spent a week in sick bay... no knowledge, no information was imparted.
"It completely trashed my working life. I have no career. It's messed it up."
In a statement on their website, Treloar's said:
“The Inquiry’s report shows the full extent of this horrifying national scandal. We are devastated that some of our former pupils were so tragically affected and hope that the findings provide some solace for them and their families.
The report lays bare the systemic failure at the heart of the scandal. Whilst today is about understanding how and why people were given infected blood products in the 1970s and 80s, it is absolutely right that the Government has committed to establishing a proper compensation scheme. This must happen urgently after such a long wait.
On a recent visit to the School and College, our former students highlighted the need for a more public and accessible memorial to ensure the lives of all those impacted are remembered. This is a key recommendation of the report and something which we are absolutely committed to exploring with them.
We’ll now be taking the time to reflect on the report’s wider recommendations.”