Lawford Kidd's Blog

The Penrose Inquiry, which was announced by the Scottish Government in 2008, has now published its final report.

Lord Penrose chaired the inquiry, which looked in detail at how patients were infected with hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS through blood transfusions and other procedures carried out at NHS hospitals from 1974 onwards.

Following the publication of the report, Health Secretary Shona Robison has apologised on behalf of the NHS and Government in Scotland to all patients and families affected by infected NHS blood and blood products in Scotland during the 1970s and 1980s.

The Government's response to Sir Bruce Keogh's recommendations for overhauling the cosmetic treatment industry is welcome as far as it goes, but overall is ""too little, too late" according to the patient safety charity, Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA).

AvMA has had to advise and support people who have been harmed by sub-standard cosmetic treatment, and submitted evidence to Sir Bruce's review.

Whilst the Government has accepted the vast majority of Sir Bruce's report "in principle", it has not committed to full regulation of the industry or ensuring appropriate avenues for redress for patients who have been harmed.