Health
Apologies to victims of ‘the greatest scandal in the history of the NHS’
WALES’ health secretary apologised to victims of the contaminated blood scandal, describing it as the greatest treatment scandal in the history of the health service.
Leading a Senedd debate on the infected blood inquiry, Eluned Morgan said the Welsh Government has started work to consider Sir Brian Langstaff’s recommendations.
More than 30,000 people in the UK were infected with HIV or hepatitis C by contaminated blood between 1970 and 1991, with more than 3,000 people dying as a result.
She said: “We must do better than the denials, the false reassurances, the complacency, the cover-ups, the obfuscations and the repeated failures at an individual, institutional and government level that characterised and compounded this awful tragedy.”
Although the scandal predates devolution by decades, Baroness Morgan apologised to all those who were infected with tainted blood or have been affected by the disaster.
Mabon ap Gwynfor told the chamber Sir Brian’s report was an “utterly damning indictment of an entrenched culture of institutional abuse, governmental neglect and political obfuscation”.
Plaid Cymru’s shadow health secretary hoped the report would prove a watershed moment in addressing an imbalance of power at the heart of the criminal justice system.
He said: “From the Hillsborough disaster to the Post Office Horizon scandal, the wheels of justice can often turn far too slowly when it comes to the misdemeanours of the wealthy.”
Sam Rowlands, his Conservative counterpart, described the infected blood scandal as one of the most grotesque miscarriages of justice in British history.
He welcomed the Victims and Prisoners Bill, which will create an arm’s-length body to administer compensation to victims, passing through Parliament pre-general election.
Julie Morgan, who has campaigned on the issue for decades as an MS and an MP for Cardiff North, paid tribute to those who had their lives incomprehensibly turned upside down.
She said: “When haemophilia patients were told about their HIV diagnosis, it was a terrifying ordeal – a death sentence, with life-expectancy estimates of between two and five years.
“The stigma was horrendous and the majority of patients kept their status secret.”
Stressing the importance of implementing the recommendations, Ms Morgan warned many people are worried about false hope because it has taken 40 years to get to this point.
Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth, who chairs the Senedd’s cross-party group on haemophilia and infected blood, agreed that the fight for justice must continue.
Mark Isherwood, the Conservative MS for North Wales, said the five-year inquiry found infected blood was not an accident and was avoidable.
He said: “Contaminated blood has had and continues to have a devastating impact on the lives of thousands of infected people and their families.”
John Griffiths, a Labour backbencher, who has represented Newport East since 1999, joined other members in paying tribute to campaigner Lynne Kelly, who chairs Haemophilia Wales.
Highlighting the stigma around HIV/AIDS at the time, he said the family home of Colin John Smith, who died aged seven weighing only 13lb, was daubed with abuse and graffiti.
Mr Griffiths told the chamber: “It was a terrible scandal and indictment of the systems at the time – and so many families suffered in the way that these families did.”
Plaid Cymru’s Sioned Williams raised the concerns of two sisters from the Swansea valley, whose father Arwyn Davies died in 1992 due to the “appalling, unforgivable” scandal.
She said: “To date, children who lost parents, like Rhian and Sharon, have never been provided with compensation or recognition of their father’s death. They haven’t even received a letter of apology from their local health board.”
Hefin David, who is vice-chair of the cross-party group, paid tribute to campaigners in his constituency, including Nicholas Moran, Susan Hughes, Janet Morgan, and Kirk Ellis.
Wearing a tie in the campaign’s colours, the Labour MS for Caerphilly raised Mr Ellis’ concerns about the UK Government’s proposed lump-sum compensation scheme.
Dr David said: “He points out that in Scotland the Scottish Government has guaranteed that ongoing current support payments are for life, as well as the lump-sum compensation payments proposed by the UK Government in response to Sir Brian’s report.”
Outside the Senedd, Dr David said: “It has taken us a long time to get to where we are today, and it is a tribute to the hard work of campaigners and all those who have been affected by this scandal, whether directly or indirectly.
“The role of my constituents who have regularly contacted me about this issue over the years cannot be understated.
“I have done a lot of work with Kirk Ellis in particular, who is from Caerphilly. These residents wanted me to tell their story of how the infected blood scandal affected them and their loved ones, but they also want to raise concerns about how the UK Government could implement a proposed compensation scheme going forward”.
Dr David highlighted the need for the UK Government to work with the Welsh Government and implement the report’s recommendations “in full and without delay”.
Plaid Cymru’s Luke Fletcher said Debroah James, a constituent from Bridgend, has fought for 42 years to uncover the truth of the death of her brother, who was a police officer.
He said: “People in positions of authority vilified these families for raising concerns, accused them of lying, accused them of giving life to rumours. Corruption is the long and short of it, isn’t it – a bid to save money. What an indictment of our system.”
Labour backbencher Jenny Rathbone agreed that it is more than a treatment scandal, saying: “This is about a criminal cover-up.”
The Cardiff Central MS backed Sir Brian’s calls for a legal duty of candour for civil servants and ministers to ensure they are not “continuing to be less than candid with the truth”.
Acknowledging concerns about unrecognised cases, Baroness Morgan said part of the issue is problems with NHS records that are required to make compensation claims.
She said the Welsh Government has established a new infected blood inquiry group, chaired by Push Mangat, the new deputy chief medical officer, to consider the next steps.
She explained: “It will work with health boards, the Welsh Blood Service, Public Health Wales and policy officials to ensure we look at the wrongs of the past and work together to ensure this can never happen again.”
Closing the debate on June 4, Baroness Morgan said: “Tonight I think we unite as a chamber and as a parliament, and I’m sure you’ll join with me to pay tribute to those who have suffered as a result of this – the greatest scandal in the history of the NHS.”
MSs unanimously supported the Welsh Government motion and Plaid Cymru amendments.
THE WELSH GOVERNMENT is set to roll out its revamped Baby Bundle programme aimed at easing the financial burden on expectant families, particularly in some of the country’s most deprived areas. The initiative, which remains a cornerstone of the Programme for Government, was detailed by Dawn Bowden MS, Minister for Children and Social Care, in a recent statement.
Under the new scheme, £2.5 million has been earmarked for the 2025–26 financial year. Families living within core Flying Start areas will receive a Baby Bundle designed to provide essential items such as a warm blanket, clothing, and crucial information about local support services. The bundles are intended to help reduce everyday costs for families and are aligned with the Government’s broader Child Poverty Strategy.
In addition to the primary distribution, health practitioners will be able to offer Baby Bundles through Flying Start Outreach to a limited number of families outside these designated areas who are in need of extra support. The programme’s targeted approach is expected to make a tangible difference by alleviating some of the financial pressures faced by those living in economically challenged communities.
The tender specification for the procurement of the Baby Bundle programme is scheduled to go live later this week. The procurement process will run until mid-May 2025, with officials set to assess bids and aim for a contract award by the end of June. Once the process is successfully completed, the registration for receiving the Baby Bundle is anticipated to commence by the end of November.
The Government is also working closely with midwives and other health professionals to finalise the registration process, ensuring a smooth rollout. As part of its wider efforts to boost the uptake of Welsh Benefits, the Baby Bundle initiative will feature prominently in campaigns designed to raise awareness among families about the available support.
This proactive step underscores the Welsh Government’s commitment to not only meeting immediate needs but also to fostering long-term improvements in family welfare across the region. Further updates on the programme’s progress are expected in the coming months.
THE WELSH NHS has recorded the highest level of public dissatisfaction across the United Kingdom, according to the 2024 British Social Attitudes survey conducted by the King’s Fund and the Nuffield Trust.
The survey found that 72% of people in Wales are dissatisfied with the performance of the NHS, compared with 59% in England and 60% in Scotland. Researchers noted that the gap between Wales and other nations is statistically significant and reflects growing concern about healthcare delivery in the country.
The Nuffield Trust, in its analysis of the figures, highlighted a series of factors that may be contributing to public discontent in Wales. These include record-breaking NHS waiting times, persistent underperformance on key targets, and recent political instability – most notably the resignation of First Minister Vaughan Gething after just four months in office.
Healthcare in Wales is devolved and the responsibility of the Welsh Government. Performance indicators such as ambulance response times, emergency department waits, and treatment backlogs have consistently shown Wales trailing behind England and Scotland in recent years.
Reacting to the figures, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, James Evans MS, said: “After years of failure, Labour has driven satisfaction with our health service into the ground.
People in Wales are clearly and rightly fed up to the back teeth with Labour’s atrocious mismanagement of the Welsh NHS, with nearly three-quarters now dissatisfied.
The Welsh Conservatives have a plan to fix the Welsh NHS and improve outcomes, with a focus on easing restrictions to encourage cross-border and cross-sector collaboration in the short term, and a new and substantial workforce plan to boost staff numbers in the long term.”
The Welsh Government has yet to respond to the latest survey results, but ministers have previously argued that chronic underfunding from Westminster and the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to place immense pressure on NHS Wales.
Health analysts suggest that while public concern is rising across the UK, the scale of dissatisfaction in Wales signals a need for urgent reform and renewed focus on delivery.
RCN says inaction threatens workforce stability and patient care
TODAY marks the start of the 2025/26 financial year, but thousands of nursing staff across Wales are still waiting to hear what their pay rise will be. The Welsh Government has not yet announced this year’s NHS pay award, leaving health workers in uncertainty during a time of continuing economic pressure.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has criticised the delay, warning that it undermines staff morale and exacerbates an already fragile workforce situation. According to the latest figures, there are over 2,000 nursing vacancies across Wales, with staff retention falling and student recruitment struggling to keep pace with demand.
Last year, after months of industrial unrest, NHS nursing staff in Wales accepted a revised pay offer from the Welsh Government. The 2023/24 deal included a 5% consolidated increase and a one-off payment of at least £900. At the time, Welsh ministers said the agreement represented the best possible offer within the limits of the funding available from Westminster.
A Welsh Government spokesperson said during the 2023 negotiations: “We are working within a fixed budget and have had to make difficult decisions to prioritise frontline services. We continue to urge the UK Government to provide the necessary funding for fair pay across the NHS.”
That context remains unchanged in 2025, with Welsh ministers stating in recent months that without additional funding from the UK Government, it is becoming increasingly difficult to fund public sector pay awards without affecting other services. The Welsh Government has frequently highlighted that it does not receive ringfenced health pay funding and must make choices within the block grant provided via the Barnett formula.
Nevertheless, the RCN says the failure to confirm this year’s NHS pay uplift on time is unacceptable.
Helen Whyley, Executive Director of RCN Wales, said: “The continued delay in announcing the NHS pay award is unacceptable. Nursing staff are essential to patient care, yet once again, they find themselves at the bottom of government priorities.”
“Nursing staff are the backbone of the NHS and cannot be expected to deliver the reforms needed to save it if Welsh Government can’t even pay them fairly and on time. The Welsh Government must take responsibility and act now to ensure nursing staff receive a fair and timely pay rise. At the same time, they must hold Westminster to account for failing to properly fund NHS Wales.”
Health unions are calling for clarity in the coming days to avoid further disruption and to reassure staff who are already facing high workloads and rising living costs.
The Welsh Government has been approached for an updated comment regarding the current delay.
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