Death in the blood: The most shocking scandal in NHS history
The Story
The Times
3.9 • 1.6K Ratings
🗓️ 20 September 2023
⏱️ 37 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
From the 1970s onwards, an estimated 5,000 NHS patients were given contaminated blood products, which contained deadly diseases like hepatitis and HIV. Today, half of those infected have died. How did this happen? As her new book is published, we hear from the Sunday Times journalist who unearthed the story, and followed it for 20 years to get answers.
This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.
Guest: Caroline Wheeler, Political Editor, The Sunday Times.
Host: Manveen Rana.
Clips: Infected Blood Inquiry, World in Action, Lord Mayor of Treloar.
Caroline's book, Death in the Blood, is available from the Times Bookshop now: https://timesbookshop.co.uk/death-in-the-blood-the-most-shocking-scandal-in-nhs-history-from-the-journalist-who-has-followed-the-story-for-over-two-decades-9781035405244
Have thoughts about this podcast? Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.uk.
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Here in the UK, we sell amazing products and services the whole world once. |
| 0:04.4 | At the Black Farmer in Devon, our producers enjoyed on both sides of the Atlantic. |
| 0:09.8 | We're McKinnon and Saunders from Manchester and our puppets are watched on six continents. |
| 0:14.8 | So whether you're new to exporting or experienced, |
| 0:17.4 | explore global growth for your business with free support from the UK government, |
| 0:21.6 | access information, training, events and expert advice to help you find new customers overseas, |
| 0:27.2 | visit great.gov.uk to get started. |
| 0:34.4 | It's July the 27th, 2021. In a drab conference room, |
| 0:40.0 | in a building in central London, a former health secretary is handed a Bible. |
| 0:47.6 | Please state your full name. |
| 0:50.1 | My full name is Kenneth Harry Clarke. |
| 0:52.0 | Take the book in your raised hand and repeat after me. |
| 0:59.3 | I swear by Almighty God, that the evidence I shall give, that the evidence that I shall give, |
| 1:06.6 | shall be the truth, shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, |
| 1:12.1 | and nothing but the truth. |
| 1:13.4 | You are asked to reflect on the government's response to the risks posed by infected blood and blood |
| 1:25.6 | products. You say as a department, I believe, we acted as swiftly and as efficiently as we were |
| 1:31.0 | able, given the clinical and legal advice made available to us. Does that remain your view, Your Clarke? |
| 1:37.1 | Yes. Is it right to understand then that in terms of your own perspective, looking back, |
| 1:42.8 | you have not identified any lessons to be learnt from the infected blood crisis? |
| 1:48.0 | No, I haven't. I mean, I've obviously improved my knowledge better now and it worked in the |
| 1:54.0 | heart of Mexico. |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from The Times, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of The Times and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.