Oxford University Hospitals Trust (OUH) has said it is "deeply sorry" for the "pain and suffering" caused to the victims of the infected blood scandal.

More than 30,000 people were infected with deadly viruses between the 1970s and early 1990s as they received blood transfusions or blood products while receiving NHS care.

Some were treated at the Oxford Haemophilia Centre at the Churchill Hospital which, like many other centres treating the disorder in the UK, treated patients with infected blood products during this time.

OUH said that "alongside the rest of the NHS, it has learned important lessons from what happened".

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And "today, all treatment is carried out in line with national guidance and best practice guidelines and we put patients, and their families, at the heart of decision-making".

Dr Andrew Brent, chief medical officer at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We are deeply sorry for the historic treatment of patients with infected blood products; for all the instances in which the care provided fell short; and for the pain, suffering and hardship this caused to people in our care, as well as to their families and loved ones.

"Policies and practice around patient care, consent and data are now completely different to those in the 1970s and 80s and we aim to offer patients the highest quality of care and support.

"We will continue our work to ensure a strong patient safety culture and systems informed by the patient voice."

The Infected Blood Inquiry which was established in 2017 published its final report on Monday (May 20).

It identified a “catalogue of systemic, collective and individual failures” that amounted to a “calamity”.

And it found there has been “deliberate destruction” of relevant documents and “elements of downright deception” from those in positions of trust and power.

Dr Brent said: "We have already learned important lessons from what happened and will read the report in detail to ensure we continue to learn as an organisation and to support national learning."

In 2017 around 100 people treated at the Oxford Haemophilia Centre in the 1970s and 80s whose lives were shattered by the scandal took their battle to the High Court and sued the Department for Health.

Lead claimant Jason Evans' father Jonathan died aged 31 from HIV after being treated at Oxford and Coventry.

Also among the litigants was Neil Weller, 46, of Southmoor near Abingdon, who became friends with Mr Evans’s father when they were patients in Oxford.

Oxford Mail: Neil Weller Neil Weller (Image: Oxford Mail)

Dave Moore, 52, of High Wycombe, lost his father Kenneth to hepatitis C in 2000 after 25 years of Factor VIII treatment in Oxford.

Other victims of the scandal from Oxfordshire include David Leadbetter, who was infected with hepatitis C in the 1970s, and Janette Johnson, whose son Graham died aged 15 after contracting HIV from treatment in Oxford.

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Mr Evans told the Oxford Mail in 2017: “The surviving victims are in dire need of compensation.

“But ultimately the deaths of our fathers were recorded in history falsely. We stand to really embarrass the establishment and will put on record that almost 2,000 people were killed by the state.

“It will be a stain on this country.”

Anyone impacted should contact the England Infected Blood Support Scheme, which was set up to support people historically infected with Hepatitis C or HIV from contaminated blood or blood products.

They also offer support to families, civil or long-term partners after the death of someone infected.