'People are still dying’, says victim of contaminated blood scandal in Cornwall
Richard Waring, from Gunnislake, is calling for 'closure' from the final report of the independent inquiry
Last updated 17th May 2024
A victim of the infected blood scandal from south east Cornwall is calling for 'closure' in the final inquiry.
Families and victims of the contaminated blood scandal have described how they continued to suffer in the years after losing their loved ones, as they await the report of the independent inquiry due to be published on Monday 20 May.
Richard Waring, Gunnislake, discovered he had contracted Hepatitis C shortly before the birth of his first child.
"Shock"
He told us: "The shock absolutely was devastating for my wife. She was eight months pregnant at this stage. No GP around to speak to. She was left to go home and tell me when I got home from work that I was infected.
"We didn't know what to do, it was basically a death sentence. There was no support, no-one around us, no counselling, nothing.
"We need that closure and we need it swiftly."
"People are still dying"
"We've been to two funerals this year already from people we knew who've passed away. They haven't got time on their side, I might have a bit longer but no-one knows."
The Infected Blood Inquiry was ordered almost seven years ago by then prime minister Theresa May to look into the circumstances in which people treated by health services were given infected blood, in particular since 1970.
Richard Waring added: "We're 30 years down the line for ourselves and for some people even longer.
"There has to be a fair compensation for all"
"We started this campaign as young people and I'm now retirement age and we've gone through thick and thin. We want justice for all particularly. There's those families with children who have died and children who've lost their parents or their siblings. Many of those have not yet received anything.
"It's absolutely essential. There needs to be a proper apology... backed up by action."
Read more:
Falmouth blood scandal victim found out about hepatitis C infection 40 years later