The United Kingdom Infected Blood Inquiry: Its findings and lessons for the future of transfusion

The UK Infected Blood Inquiry report was published in May 2024 after 6 years of taking oral and written evidence from patients, clinicians, blood services, government officials and politicians about the transmission of infection by blood transfusion to thousands of patients in the 1970s through to the 1990s. The same problems with transfusion-transmitted infection occurred in many other countries in the same period but their reviews, inquiries and decisions about compensation occurred many years earlier than in the UK. The publication of the report has been welcomed but begs two important questions. Why was the inquiry so delayed in the UK? And why did it take so long to report? Further, the report itself deserves scrutiny. What were its findings and lessons learned? How will the findings be implemented and what are the implications, if any, for other countries?