Braunton man reflects on blood scandal report

A 78-year-old retired chartered surveyor from Braunton, has emerged as a poignant symbol of the blood scandal that rocked the United Kingdom from the 1970s through the 1990s.

Diagnosed with hepatitis C in 2004, Paul Jewels' condition came from a blood transfusion he received during chemotherapy treatment for cancer in 1983, when he was 37 years old.

The long-awaited inquiry report, published on May 20, chaired by retired judge Sir Brian Langstaff and initiated by former Prime Minister Theresa May, spans over 2,500 pages and provides a comprehensive account of the scandal.

The contaminated blood scandal, which affected over 30,000 individuals in the UK, involved the administration of treatments tainted with HIV and hepatitis C, resulting in the deaths of approximately 3,000 victims.

Reflecting on the report, Paul expressed a feeling of relief. 

He said: “So after the reflections, I thought that this day would never come in my lifetime.”

“The report is incredibly damning, highlighting a catalogue of failures and outright deception that could have been avoided. Deliberate destruction and hiding of documents, concealing and suppressing the truth, and the closing of ranks by politicians, doctors, and NHS civil servants were all uncovered.”

Paul praised Sir Brian Langstaff for his empathetic and thorough approach to the inquiry, noting that Sir Brian Langstaff did not shy away from criticising key political figures.

Paul said: “The Prime Minister said it was a day of shame. Important blood products were not properly screened, and top clinicians had warned about the safety of these products. They should have been licensed.”

Paul articulated the significance of the inquiry's findings in his own words:

“I thought that this day would never come in my lifetime. After almost seven years an inquiry set up by Theresa May and chaired by a retired judge Sir Brian Langstaff was published. On May 20 the published report was over 2500 pages long and was incredibly damning, highlighting a catalogue of failures and downright deception and a scandal which could have been avoided.

“Deliberately destroying and hiding documents and correspondence, concealing and suppressing the truth, closing ranks by politicians, doctors, NHS civil servants. Sir Brian showed amazing empathy, sympathy, humanity and understanding of the 30,000 victims, of which 3000 have died. He didn't hold back with his criticism of certain politicians. Sir Brian proposed, among other things, an immediate setting up for a compensation scheme, following what he referred to as the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS, and the chief executive of the hepatitis C trust said it was a historic day. It certainly was.

“And for me, it is the beginning of the end of a chapter which has been part of more than half of my life. There have been many, many times of frustration and of course illnesses. I have been fortunate to have had a supporting family to put positivity at the forefront of life. I welcome the promise of compensation. But most importantly, I'm pleased that the truth has been told.”

Despite the decades of unanswered questions, Paul remains remarkably positive, crediting his resilience to the unwavering support of his family, including his wife, children, and grandchildren, as well as local MP Selaine Saxby, who has championed his cause in the House of Commons.

Paul’s positive outlook on life and dedication to helping others is truly inspiring.

He channels his energy into training therapy dogs, a passion that has brought joy and comfort to many in hospice care.
He fondly remembers his therapy dog, Gozo, who sadly passed away.

Now, he has a new puppy, PJ, who is his life and soul, bringing him and others daily happiness and companionship.