Blood report left mother feeling 'numb'

A woman from Somerset said the long-awaited report into the findings of the infected blood inquiry has made her feel "numb".

Lee Turton, the son of Denise and Colin Turton from Nailsea, died in 1992 when he was 10 years old, after being infected with HIV at the age of two.

It comes as the public inquiry finds the scandal could have been "largely avoided".

More than 30,000 people were infected with HIV and hepatitis C from 1970 to 1991 by contaminated blood products and transfusions, and around 3,000 of them have since died.

The five-year investigation accused doctors, government and the NHS of letting patients catch HIV and hepatitis.

The Infected Blood Inquiry said victims had been failed "not once but repeatedly" by doctors, the NHS, government and others responsible for their safety.

Speaking in London, Denise Turton told the BBC : "It's all that we knew, but when you see it written down, it's just unbelievable, and knowing Lee should still be here with us - the government, the NHS, everybody failed him.

"They took his life.

"He shouldn't have been infected, he shouldn't have been on that treatment, he should be here, and this shouldn't be happening."

Read more on the infected blood inquiry

• Infected blood scandal: What is it and who gets compensation?
• The school where dozens died in NHS blood scandal
• Infected blood inquiry: Five things we have learned
• How 175 British children were infected with HIV
• 'I'll keep fighting until everyone is compensated'

Mrs Turton said seeing the report written down did not help.

"It brings up so many emotions now... It's very much harder than I thought. I feel quite numb at the moment."

She added she tried to protect her son from the stigma while he was alive, and said: "All that time they knew, and they never said anything, and they covered it up and they lied.

"I'm so angry about it. I don't want an apology - it's too little, too late."

She also believes the expected government apology would not have happened without the inquiry.

Rob Brown, 60, from Chippenham, who contracted hepatitis C after a transfusion in 1974, was also at Monday's release in London.

He told the BBC "it's not euphoria or jubilation" he felt after the report's release, likening it instead to Christmas morning when you open a gift you did not want.

Mr Brown added: "It'll be really interesting to see what happens over the next 24 hours with Parliament and the politicians, and what they're going to offer us.

"I hope they put politics aside for one moment and just help us.

"It's just the weirdest feeling... I was expecting there to be loads of happiness but it's a very odd feeling."

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to issue an apology.