§ Lord Morris of Manchesterasked Her Majesty's Government:
What consideration they have given to the implications of the recent disclosure that, while processes to eliminate the hepatitis C virus through heat-treating NHS blood products used by patients 89WA with haemophilia were introduced in England in 1985, this did not happen in Scotland until 1987; and whether they will now review their policy in relation to new financial help for patients infected with the virus by NHS treatment and the dependants of those who have since died. [HL4115]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath)The blood services in Scotland and England issued heat treated blood products in December 1984 and February 1985 respectively to eliminate HIV transmission. We now know that intensive heat treatment also inactivated hepatitis C, which was not specifically identified until 1989. The heat treatment used in Scotland between 1984 and 1987 was less intensive than that used in England and while it inactivated HIV it did not fully eliminate hepatitis C transmission through blood products. When this became evident the blood service in Scotland increased the level of heat treatment to eliminate hepatitis C transmission as well. Our general policy remains that compensation or other financial help to patients is given only when the National Health Service or individuals working in it have been at fault.
§ Lord Morris of Manchesterasked Her Majesty's Government:
In view of the recent disclosure that haemophilia treatment in Scotland was not inactivated against hepatitis C until up to a year after that produced elsewhere in the United Kingdom:
- (a) how many English, Welsh and Northern Irish patients with haemophilia were given clotting factor treatment produced in Scotland between 1985 and 1987;
- (b) what steps the Department of Health is taking to trace and inform such patients that they may have been infected with hepatitis C through clotting factor products made in Scotland after 1985; and
- (c) whether they will reverse their decision not to conduct a full inquiry into the effects of
WA 90 contaminated blood products given to patients with haemophilia, in keeping with the decision of the Scottish Health Minister to order a full investigation into how the haemophilia community in Scotland was infected with hepatitis C. [HL4116]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathOne hundred and ninety vials heated at less than the current conditions of 80 per cent centigrade were sent to England and Wales between 1985 and 1987. Northern Ireland was, and continues to be, supplied routinely with clotting factors manufactured in Scotland. Most people with haemophilia requiring treatment visit their haemophilia centre at least once a year for an annual review which includes consideration of possible past hepatitis C infection. However, we are asking UK haemophilia centre directors to ensure that all those who might possibly have been infected with hepatitis C are offered counselling, testing and. where appropriate, treatment. We do not propose a further inquiry.
§ Lord Morris of Manchesterasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will urgently review the treatment for patients with haemophilia who have been infected with hepatitis C by contaminated NHS blood products so that patients are not denied the only available licensed treatment (interferon/ribavirin) on grounds of cost. [HL4117]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathWe have made it clear that care is to be provided for all medical conditions on the basis of clinical need and effectiveness. The combination therapy interferon/ribavirin received a marketing authorisation in May 1999. The NHS Health Technology Assessment is funding research to establish the effectiveness of the early treatment of hepatitis C with alpha interferon or with interferon and ribavirin. We are also funding the Royal College of Physicians, the British Society of Gastroenterology and the British Association for the Study of the Liver to develop evidence based clinical guidelines for the management of patients with hepatitis C. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence is likely to consider treatment for hepatitis C in early 2000.