Scottish Home and Health Department representatives observed a meeting organised by the Department of Health and Social Security to discuss AIDS and the transfusion services. Read more about Scottish Home and Health Department representatives observed a meeting organised by the Department of Health and Social Security to discuss AIDS and the transfusion services.
Lord Clarke confirmed in his oral evidence that his view in November 1984 was that spending of £2 million on blood tests for HTLV-3 was not cost effective. Though he recognised that with hindsight it was "a tragically - an incorrect opinion", he explained "that was when we got just a handful of AIDS cases". Read more about Lord Clarke confirmed in his oral evidence that his view in November 1984 was that spending of £2 million on blood tests for HTLV-3 was not cost effective. Though he recognised that with hindsight it was "a tragically - an incorrect opinion", he explained "that was when we got just a handful of AIDS cases".
Kenneth Clarke, as Minister of State for Health, did not think spending £2 million on AIDS screening would be cost effective and that the money would be better spent elsewhere. Read more about Kenneth Clarke, as Minister of State for Health, did not think spending £2 million on AIDS screening would be cost effective and that the money would be better spent elsewhere.
Lord Glenarthur's query as to when the UK would be able to screen all blood for AIDS came after he had received no further briefing on the issue since an initial note on 31 August. Read more about Lord Glenarthur's query as to when the UK would be able to screen all blood for AIDS came after he had received no further briefing on the issue since an initial note on 31 August.
Matters escalated in the year between Dr Acheson's appointment as Chief Medical Officer and Lord Glenarthur's query as to whether all blood was being screened for AIDS. Read more about Matters escalated in the year between Dr Acheson's appointment as Chief Medical Officer and Lord Glenarthur's query as to whether all blood was being screened for AIDS.
When Dr Acheson became Chief Medical Officer, he decided the implications of HIV/AIDS were serious and that he should seek expert advice as soon as possible. Read more about When Dr Acheson became Chief Medical Officer, he decided the implications of HIV/AIDS were serious and that he should seek expert advice as soon as possible.
An article titled "Panic and the blood" was published in The Guardian, which argued that the UK's response to the AIDS crisis was too slow. Read more about An article titled "Panic and the blood" was published in The Guardian, which argued that the UK's response to the AIDS crisis was too slow.
Lord Glenarthur queried whether all blood was being screened for AIDS and asked when the UK would be able to do this. Read more about Lord Glenarthur queried whether all blood was being screened for AIDS and asked when the UK would be able to do this.
Lord Glenarthur decided the cost of AIDS screening should be met from the existing budgets of regional health authorities. Lord Glenarthur was also briefed that there were numerous medical and ethical implications of such testing which were due to be examined by a working group on AIDS. Read more about Lord Glenarthur decided the cost of AIDS screening should be met from the existing budgets of regional health authorities. Lord Glenarthur was also briefed that there were numerous medical and ethical implications of such testing which were due to be examined by a working group on AIDS.
Very quickly after the Gallo tests became available, a number of European countries and Australia announced the start of universal screening of blood donations. Read more about Very quickly after the Gallo tests became available, a number of European countries and Australia announced the start of universal screening of blood donations.