During the course of the hearing a timeline was provided using the documentation to complete a detailed chronology from the early 1970’s up until Professor Bloom’s death in November 1992. Those listening and watching the presentation were told that it was not intended to be the last word on the subject of Professor Bloom and more material was likely to be gathered post the evidence heard in the presentation.
The presentation discussed Professor Bloom’s approach to treatment, treatment development and the use of concentrates and pool sizes. Ms Richards also provided documentation relating to Professor Bloom’s relationship with pharmaceutical companies and discussions with them relating to trials. The presentation also covered Dr Bloom’s relationship with, and his advice given to, The Haemophilia Society, especially in relation to HIV. Also covered was the use of previously untreated patients (PUPs) and the guidelines that were in place in Cardiff in relation to the transfusion of concentrate or NHS factor or cryoprecipitate.
Key issues touched upon during the presentation were:
During the presentation Ms Richards provided Sir Brian Langstaff with a number of questions that he in turn will need to answer in his report including if, as Professor Bloom said in documentation in 1983, haemophiliacs were not greatly concerned about AIDS, was this because of the information that Professor Bloom was providing to them?
For a full transcript of the presentation please visit: https://www.infectedbloodinquiry.org.uk/evidence where you can read the transcript or watch the evidence via YouTube video.
In relation to the presentation, Ms Richards closed the day by confirming that she had completed part one of three of the presentation. Ms Richards reiterated that she was keen not to rush the presentation and did not want to overlook important material. Parts two and three will be looking at patient experiences, through witness statements and evidence, and how they marry with the documentation and the content of the HIV Litigation Report prepared by Professor Bloom.