News

BBC Wales finds baby was infected with HIV after top doc ignored own rules

Published

8 months ago

April 12, 2024

THE latest episode of BBC Wales Investigates – broadcasting on BBC One Wales on Monday, April 15 at 8pm – has found that a 10-month-old baby was infected with HIV after a top doctor ignored their own rules.

When Colin Smith contracted HIV through contaminated blood, his parents’ house was daubed with ‘Aids dead’ and his father was forced to leave his job, the programme – Blood Money – finds.

Now 34 years on from his death from Aids at the age of seven, his family are facing another injustice.

BBC Wales Investigates reporter Wyre Davies has uncovered new evidence that Professor Arthur Bloom, the world-renowned doctor who gave him the infected imported blood product, Factor VIII, broke his own rules to do so.

NHS internal guidelines, written by Prof Bloom’s department, clearly shows that children should not be treated with imported blood because of the serious risk of infection.

“This wasn’t an accident,” said Colin senior, speaking in the programme.

“It could have been avoided.”

“I’m telling you, it was all behind a curtain,” said Colin’s mum, Janet.

“Everything Bloom done was not face-to-face it was behind-the-scenes if you like. What Prof said, what Prof done – we knew nothing about.”

Colin was born with the bleeding condition haemophilia. He was one of around 3,000 haemophiliacs who died after being infected with HIV and other viruses, like hepatitis, in imported blood products in the ‘70s and ‘80s.

These viruses got into the supply chain when high-risk donors, such as drug addicts and prisoners, in countries like the USA were paid to give blood donations. Those products were then bought by the UK.

Another victim, speaking for the first time on condition of anonymity, has kept his HIV condition a secret for almost 40 years.

He’s convinced Prof Bloom kept his HIV diagnosis from him while his wife was pregnant, and even tried to convince the couple to abort the child.

“They explained to us the situation that I was HIV positive and not to tell anyone – that was the biggest thing that hit me. Don’t tell anyone, we don’t want to frighten people. Keep it to yourselves and there’s nothing to be done. There’s no treatment available for it,” they tell the programme.

“I just hope to God it never happens again.”

“I think it’s our duty to tell this story because of the number of us that are already dead.”

BBC Wales Investigates has trawled through hundreds of pages of evidence. These documents show that drugs companies making the blood product Factor VIII, which is used to treat haemophiliacs, were aware of the risks of serious infection from the hepatitis virus as early as the 1970s.

The programme reveals that documents from Immuno AG – a pharmaceutical company which made the Factor VIII product used in the UK – shows senior executives knew products made from USA donors had a higher risk of viral infections, but they said the UK market would accept that risk because it was cheaper.

The programme captures the moment Colin Smith’s parents are shown the document for the first time.

“They weren’t worried about people’s health as far as I’m concerned. You get to a stage when you read things like that, to us it was murder,” said Colin’s mother, Janet.

Another Professor, who was mentored by Bloom and treated patients with infected blood products, told the programme that doctors and companies knew imported blood products carried serious health risks.

Prof Edward Tuddenham said: “If you go on selling a product that you know is potentially deadly just because you made a good profit from it, you’ve obviously rated your profit above the health and actually the life of the people who have been given the product.”

“There was a period when we were exposing patients to clearly horrific risk but we didn’t appreciate them or make the correct calculation of risk- benefit.”

Professor Bloom died in 1992.

The programme also examines the role of the UK Government, as the scandal was emerging, and asks why ministers continued telling the public there was “no conclusive proof” that AIDS could be carried in blood products.

And while victims, and families of victims, wait for compensation, the programme speaks to one woman who has been denied a payout, despite being able to prove she was infected with Hepatitis C through a blood transfusion in 1992 – after a cut-off date previously imposed by the government.

“It’s the recognition,” said Caz Challis. “It’s the not being told you’re not worth it. You don’t count. It’s the justice for the people who have been ignored.”

The infected blood inquiry is due to publish its final report on May 20th.

BBC Wales Investigates: Blood Money will be on BBC One Wales on Monday, April 15 at 8pm. It will also be available to watch on BBC iPlayer from Sunday.

Health

Health concerns as banned American candy floods UK markets

Published

7 mins ago

December 3, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PARENTS are being warned this festive season about the dangers of imported American sweets, snacks, and fizzy drinks, which are flooding UK high streets thanks to social media trends. The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) has raised alarms over unauthorised additives in these products, many of which fail to meet UK safety standards.

A growing trend, a hidden danger

Social media platforms like TikTok have popularised American confectionery, with influencers showcasing brightly coloured snacks in viral “candy haul” videos. This has made imported sweets a sought-after stocking filler for children and teenagers, driving record sales in convenience stores and high-street retailers.

However, this sugary trend comes with a bitter side. Many of these products, designed for foreign markets, bypass UK safety and legal standards. They often lack proper allergen declarations and contain harmful, unauthorised additives.

Major safety failures highlighted

A pilot project led by Staffordshire County Council’s Trading Standards team, funded by the Food Standards Agency, uncovered alarming issues. Inspectors seized 3,378 items valued at £8,500 from local shops. Tests revealed the presence of dangerous additives, including:

Yellow 6 (E110): Found in snacks, linked to hyperactivity in children.
Carrageenan: Common in jelly cups, posing a choking hazard.
EDTA: Prohibited in drinks, associated with developmental issues in animal studies.

Among the inspected stores, 89% failed to comply with UK regulations. Common violations included:

Products with unauthorised additives.
Missing English labels or allergen warnings.
Expired items being sold.

In total, 3,700 non-compliant products valued at £10,300 were confiscated, including crisps with E110, sweets with mineral oil and bleached flour, and drinks containing EDTA.

A national problem

The issue extends beyond Staffordshire. Operation Tootsie, a broader Trading Standards initiative, revealed that 77% of tested products from national retailers failed compliance checks, rising to 91% among importers.

Dean Cooke, CTSI Lead Officer for Food, said: “Social media has amplified the demand for American sweets. While retailers enjoy seasonal sales, they must ensure products meet UK standards. Parents should check labels to protect children from harmful additives.”

He also reminded consumers to avoid products without a UK/GB address on the label, as these fail to meet import labelling laws.

Councillor Victoria Wilson, Cabinet Member for Trading Standards at Staffordshire County Council, highlighted the seriousness of the issue:
“Our Trading Standards team was alarmed to find thousands of unsafe products on sale, often aimed at children. Poor labelling and unauthorised ingredients pose significant public health risks.”

The Pembrokeshire Herald advises that local consumers scrutinise labels carefully. Products with American weight measurements, such as ounces, are likely imports. These must meet UK safety standards, including accurate allergen declarations.

Anyone concerned about food safety in Wales can contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline at 0808 223 1133.

This Christmas, Trading Standards is ramping up operations to tackle the influx of unsafe goods. Parents are advised to stay vigilant and prioritise safety when filling stockings with festive treats.

Health

Lockdown lifted at Withybush Hospital following incident

Published

29 mins ago

December 3, 2024

Tom Sinclair

WITHYBUSH HOSPITAL in Haverfordwest was placed under lockdown earlier today (Tuesday, Dec 3) as a precaution following a potential threat. The lockdown, which temporarily restricted access to the site, has now been lifted, with services resuming across the hospital.

Hywel Dda University Health Board confirmed that no one was harmed during the incident and that police provided assistance on-site. A spokesperson for the health board stated:

“Lockdown procedures were put in place at Withybush Hospital as a precaution for staff and patient safety.

“No one was harmed, and police assisted on-site. The site followed established lockdown procedures due to a potential threat.

“Access to the site and the hospital was restricted for a short period of time. This situation is now resolved, and access to the site has been re-established.

“We would like to thank staff, patients, and our partners for their assistance in managing this situation.”

The Emergency Department at Withybush Hospital remains busy, and members of the public are being urged to attend only for life-threatening emergencies. For non-urgent medical advice, people are encouraged to use the NHS Wales symptom checker online or contact NHS 111 Wales.

Dyfed-Powys Police, who were seen in large numbers at the hospital, did not disclose details about the nature of the incident but confirmed they had been supporting the health board.

Patients with cancelled appointments are being contacted as staff work to rearrange disrupted schedules.

News

Andrew RT Davies resigns as Welsh Conservative leader after confidence vote

Published

4 hours ago

December 3, 2024

Tom Sinclair

ANDREW RT DAVIES has stepped down as leader of the Welsh Conservatives after narrowly surviving a confidence vote within his party.

In a letter announcing his resignation, Davies expressed regret, stating that his position had become “untenable” after some Members of the Senedd (MSs) threatened to resign from his frontbench if he remained in post.

The vote, held on Tuesday morning, saw Davies secure nine votes in support but faced opposition from seven MSs. Reflecting on the outcome, he said: “It was clear from the result that a substantial minority of the group do not support our approach.”

Davies has served as leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd for most of the past 13 years. His departure marks the end of a tenure defined by both challenges and significant contributions to the party in Wales.

Commenting on the resignation, Reform UK Wales Spokesman, Oliver Lewis said: “True to form, the Tories have turfed out another leader thinking that will resurrect their failing party. They care more about jousting for position than they do about serving Welsh people.

“It does not matter who they have as leader, the simple fact is they have failed in opposition just as they failed Wales in Government in Westminster for 14 years.

“The people of Wales want real change in 2026 and that is just what we plan to offer them. Wales needs Reform.”