Politicians should ‘hang heads in shame’ over UK infected blood scandal, victims say

A woman holds a bouquet of flowers in the campaign colours as families affected by the infected blood scandal hear the findings of the six-year inquiry. Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty Images

Politicians “should hang their heads in shame” over the contaminated blood scandal, victims’ groups have said, and warned of future disasters because lessons have not been learned.

Groups representing those infected with HIV and hepatitis C while being treated between 1970 and 1991 said the public inquiry’s final report vindicated victims who were “gaslit” and treated like “conspiracy theorists” for calling out the worst treatment disaster in NHS history.