Pharmacists should signpost patients concerned about contaminated blood transfusions to their GP to access testing, the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has advised.

It comes as NHS England (NHSE) has announced a new drive to identify undiagnosed patients affected by the contaminated blood scandal.

As part of the initiative, all new patients registering at GP practices will be asked if they had a blood transfusion before 1996, and offered blood testing for hepatitis C if necessary.

Why are patients being asked about blood transfusions?

The move was recommended by the Infected Blood Inquiry’s report, which found that around 26,800 people were infected with hepatitis C after a blood transfusion and around 1,250 people, including 380 children, were infected with HIV after being treated for bleeding disorders.

Thousands of patients have died or ‘suffered miserably’ as a result of being treated with infected blood or blood products from the NHS, particularly in the years between 1970 and 1998, the inquiry found.

Blood supplied by the NHS is now 'rigorously tested', NHSE has stressed.

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Will patients be offered a test for infected blood?

Patients born before 1996 account for around half of new online sign-ups to GP surgeries.

From 16 June 2025, at the point of signing up to a new GP surgery, this group will now be asked if they received a blood transfusion before 1996, with those who did then being offered a test for hepatitis C.

They can access testing at GP surgeries, sexual health clinics and other services, or order a discreet, self-testing hepatitis C kits to complete at home.

The at-home test involves involving a finger prick blood sample which is then posted to a lab for analysis.

Why is it important to find undiagnosed infected blood patients?

Announcing the move this week, NHSE noted that the hepatitis C virus can infect the liver and if left untreated, can sometimes cause serious and potentially life-threatening liver damage over many years.

It often does not have any noticeable symptoms until the liver has already been significantly damaged, meaning many people have the infection without realising it, NHSE said.

But it stressed that once diagnosed, more than nine out of 10 patients with hepatitis C can be treated successfully by taking direct-acting antivirals for several weeks.

What can pharmacists do to help find undiagnosed infected blood patients?

Jasmine Shah, NPA head of pharmacy advice and support services, said it was 'important that steps are being taken to identify anyone who could be victims of the contaminated blood scandal'.

'If any patient present to their pharmacy needing help, they should be signposted to their GP to access testing,' she added.

Meanwhile Elen Jones, director of pharmacy at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS), highlighted how pharmacists working in general practice can support this initiative 'by helping identify patients, offering advice, and ensuring outcomes are recorded in the clinical record to prevent duplication'.

'There’s also potential to expand existing services in community pharmacy, such as the hepatitis C antibody testing service. While this currently focuses on people who use drugs, with the right support, its scope could be expanded to support wider public health efforts,' she added.

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'Every two weeks an infected blood patient is identified'

Rachel Halford, chief executive of Hepatitis C Trust, said the drive to find undiagnosed infected blood patients was 'a very welcome and important step'.

'Every two weeks we hear from someone infected with hepatitis C through a transfusion who is only now finding out. All of these people have had hepatitis C for more than three decades; some are very ill,' she said.

'A more pro-active approach is critical to reaching and diagnosing those who remain unaware of their infection.'

And she added: 'Thanks to the brilliant advancements in treatment, hepatitis C can be quickly cured through a short course of tablets.

'We strongly encourage anyone who had a blood transfusion before 1996 to get tested – they can order a test through the online NHS portal, and if they have any worries or concerns before or after a test, to contact our helpline.'

NHSE reiterates 'deepest apologies' for role in scandal

Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, suggested that the testing drive would enable thousands of people 'to receive the reassurance of a negative test'.

And 'any undiagnosed cases can be found and treated as quickly as possible', he said.

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Sir Stephen added: 'The failures of the contaminated blood scandal have had a horrifying impact for patients and their families for decades, and I would like to reiterate our deepest apologies for the role the health service played in the suffering and loss for so many.'

The inquiry into the scandal found a 'catalogue' of failures including:

  • Allowing blood products that carried a high risk of hepatitis infection, failing to screen blood donations adequately and failing to find alternatives to transfusion
  • Failing to tell people of the risks of treatment or transfusions, and failing to seek their consent on a properly informed basis
  • Delaying informing people of their infections by weeks, months and sometimes years
  • Failure of record-keeping, such that many people’s medical records have been destroyed, lost or are materially incomplete
  • Failing to admit wrongdoing, apologise or redress the harm done.