As reported by Innovation News Network, as part of a national effort to uncover hidden cases of hepatitis C linked to the contaminated blood scandal, the NHS will begin asking newly registered patients whether they received a blood transfusion before 1996
The question will be introduced as standard in the online GP registration process starting next month. Each year, approximately 400,000 people born before 1996 will be asked if they had a transfusion – typically after surgery, childbirth, an accident, or other medical events. Those who say yes will be offered a free hepatitis C test, which can be taken at home or through various NHS services.
Patients can request a discreet, self-testing kit involving a simple finger-prick blood sample, which is posted to a lab. Testing will also be available at GP surgeries, sexual health clinics, and other locations.
Health Minister Ashley Dalton said the move reflects the government’s commitment to addressing one of the UK’s “gravest injustices”:
Hepatitis C is a liver infection that often goes unnoticed until it causes serious damage. Left untreated, it can lead to long-term complications, but treatment today is highly effective. Over 90% of cases can be cured with a short course of direct-acting antiviral tablets.
Rachel Halford, CEO of the Hepatitis C Trust, welcomed the proactive approach “Thanks to the brilliant advancements in treatment, hepatitis C can now be cured quickly. But many people are unaware they are infected. Asking this simple question could save lives.”
The change follows a recommendation from Sir Brian Langstaff, chair of the Infected Blood Inquiry, whose final report was published in May 2024. NHS England has now issued guidance to GPs on how to introduce the question, capture responses, and support patients at risk. Only patients born on or before 31 December 1995 will be asked about past transfusions.
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