According to Dr Vanessa Martlew, the counselling process at the Mersey & North Wales Regional Transfusion Service for donors found to be carrying an infection was to "gently inform, advise and refer" rather than to provide therapeutic support. Read more about According to Dr Vanessa Martlew, the counselling process at the Mersey & North Wales Regional Transfusion Service for donors found to be carrying an infection was to "gently inform, advise and refer" rather than to provide therapeutic support.
Dr Kieran Morris conducted an initial review of documents that had been identified as potentially relevant to the Inquiry. He was not able to find any trace-back notifications for the period 2000-2006 nor records related to the plasma recall by the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service of batch pools containing plasma from two donors who subsequently developed vCJD. However, upon detailed review, Dr Morris discovered a trace-back file dated 2001 and concluded that nothing was missing. Read more about Dr Kieran Morris conducted an initial review of documents that had been identified as potentially relevant to the Inquiry. He was not able to find any trace-back notifications for the period 2000-2006 nor records related to the plasma recall by the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service of batch pools containing plasma from two donors who subsequently developed vCJD. However, upon detailed review, Dr Morris discovered a trace-back file dated 2001 and concluded that nothing was missing.
According to Dr Jack Gillon's evidence to the Inquiry, unlike the HCV lookback which put no time limit on retrospective identification of recipients, the UK HIV lookback was limited to five years prior to the index positive donation. Read more about According to Dr Jack Gillon's evidence to the Inquiry, unlike the HCV lookback which put no time limit on retrospective identification of recipients, the UK HIV lookback was limited to five years prior to the index positive donation.
According to Dr Patricia Hewitt's evidence to the Inquiry, when the main thrust of HIV lookback in England took place, there was no national organisation of the English blood services nor national mechanism for collecting data or ensuring uniformity of practice. Read more about According to Dr Patricia Hewitt's evidence to the Inquiry, when the main thrust of HIV lookback in England took place, there was no national organisation of the English blood services nor national mechanism for collecting data or ensuring uniformity of practice.
The National Blood Transfusion Service was only able to screen donations from active blood donors. The HIV status of the self-excluded donors remained unknown and the NBTS relied on clinians and/or seropositive individuals to inform the blood service voluntarily for lookback to be done on those donations. Read more about The National Blood Transfusion Service was only able to screen donations from active blood donors. The HIV status of the self-excluded donors remained unknown and the NBTS relied on clinians and/or seropositive individuals to inform the blood service voluntarily for lookback to be done on those donations.
Regarding Dr Wallington's abandoned study to gather epidemiological data from HIV lookbacks, Dr Patricia Hewitt noted resource difficulties and the lack of directive from the Department of Health or Chief Medical Officer to undertake the study. Read more about Regarding Dr Wallington's abandoned study to gather epidemiological data from HIV lookbacks, Dr Patricia Hewitt noted resource difficulties and the lack of directive from the Department of Health or Chief Medical Officer to undertake the study.
Dr Patricia Hewitt, consultant haematologist of the North London Transfusion Centre, managed the HIV lookback programme and covered Central and Northwest London, and Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and parts of Berkshire. Read more about Dr Patricia Hewitt, consultant haematologist of the North London Transfusion Centre, managed the HIV lookback programme and covered Central and Northwest London, and Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and parts of Berkshire.
Dr Kenneth Calman, Chief Medical Officer, wrote to a wide range of clinicians and public health professionals about recipients of infected donations. This direct involvement and direction by the CMO marked a distinction from the earlier approach and, according to Dr Patricia Hewitt, "provided considerably more weight than Dr Gunson trying to convince clinical colleagues by persuasion." Read more about Dr Kenneth Calman, Chief Medical Officer, wrote to a wide range of clinicians and public health professionals about recipients of infected donations. This direct involvement and direction by the CMO marked a distinction from the earlier approach and, according to Dr Patricia Hewitt, "provided considerably more weight than Dr Gunson trying to convince clinical colleagues by persuasion."
A meeting was held between the Department of Health, CDSC, and NBTS. It was confirmed that 90% of all traceable HIV positive donors had been informed of their HIV positivity, and told not to donate again. NBTS was in a position to trace the donors with the donation number from the hospital. Read more about A meeting was held between the Department of Health, CDSC, and NBTS. It was confirmed that 90% of all traceable HIV positive donors had been informed of their HIV positivity, and told not to donate again. NBTS was in a position to trace the donors with the donation number from the hospital.
Dr Janet Mortimer prepared a reported entitled "NBTS 'LOOK-BACK' October 1985 - December 1989", described by Dr Patricia Hewitt as one of the more complete records of some of the work that the blood services did on lookback. Read more about Dr Janet Mortimer prepared a reported entitled "NBTS 'LOOK-BACK' October 1985 - December 1989", described by Dr Patricia Hewitt as one of the more complete records of some of the work that the blood services did on lookback.