The final report into the infamous infected blood scandal has found a "subtle, pervasive and chilling cover up" by the NHS and the Government, as 30,000 people were contaminated with infected blood in the 1970s up to the 1990s.
Campaigners have reacted to the report in a press conference and said it was the "worst NHS treatment disaster" in UK history.
Victims and campaigners were seen outside Westminster's Central Hall as the report was published
PA
The Chairman of the Inquiry Sir Brian Langstaff has said that the destruction caused by the scandal was "not an accident".
After years of delay, the report published today found "those in authority did not put patient safety first" and the Department of Health workers "compounded victims' suffering".
Report into the infected blood scandal slams NHS 'cover up'
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Among the findings of the scandal, which has killed around 3,000 people, the report concluded that the risk of blood products causing severe infection "were well known" before most patients were treated.
Other revelations include that blood products "should not have been licensed for use in the UK" and they "repeatedly used inaccurate, misleading and defensive lines".
Speaking at the press conference this afternoon, one of the many people affected by the scandal said that they had been "gaslit for generations".
One told reporters: "I think I would say that my reaction to the fact that there has been a cover up is that to our community, that's no surprise. We've known that for decades, and now the country knows, and now the world knows as well."
Another victim of the scandal said of the report's conclusions: "This was systemic by government, by civil servants and by healthcare professionals.
"I think that really rocks what we think of as society, and really challenges the fact, the trust that we put in people to look after us, to do their best and protect us, none of that can we take for granted anymore."
Echoing the conclusions of Sir Brian, another victim told the press conference: "Sir Brian brings to the forefront about how the trusts and schemes that were set up to support us have treated us as well.
"So this is not only a cover up, it's actually an abuse by many people who were set to supposedly care for us."
