Son of Oxford blood scandal victim wins Pride of Britain

Jason Evans, 35, from Coventry, became involved in the fight after his father Jonathan died when he was four after being infected with Hepatitis C and HIV from infected Factor VIII blood products at the Oxford Haemophilia Centre.

He received a Special Recognition award along with two fellow campaigners, Andy Evans and Michelle Tolley, for fighting “on behalf of relatives and victims of the biggest scandal in NHS history in a decades-long quest for justice”.

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Mr Evans, who founded the non-profit Factor 8, said: “Winning this is incredible recognition of the fight we’ve all been through.

“It’s for the whole community”.

In the 1970s and 80s more than 30,000 people in Britain were infected with HIV and Hepatitis C, around 3,000 of whom have died.

Factor concentrates, like Factor VIII, were clotting agents used to treat haemophiliacs and infected recipients with both HIV and Hepatitis C, around 80 per cent of which died from AIDS-related illnesses – Mr Evans’ father was one of these victims.

After the initial Penrose Inquiry into the scandal in Scotland in 2015 was widely branded a whitewash, Mr Evans began two years of campaigning and research, which eventually led to the announcement of the Infected Blood Inquiry by Theresa May in July 2017.

He was a core participant in the report and was subsequently responsible for proposing and leading the campaign for the infected blood compensation framework.

In 2018, he brought forward legal action known as “Jason Evans & Others” infected blood products group litigation against the Department for Health, which remains stayed in the High Court.

Up to 100 of those involved in the suit were treated at the Oxford centre in the Churchill Hospital, part of Oxford University Hospitals trust.

Jason Evans with his father Jonathan. (Image: PA) This work was recognised in the Pride of Britain award last night (Thursday, October 24) which aims to “honour the nation’s unsung heroes” and celebrate the “truly extraordinary” acts of ordinary people.

The Daily Mirror awards show, screened on ITV last night (Thursday, October 24) with Ashley Banjo and Carol Vorderman presenting as co-hosts.

Tens of thousands of public nominations are compiled into a shortlist by researches before the judging panel, made up of nationally celebrated figures, chooses the winners.

Award winners are then honoured at a star-studded dinner in Grosvenor House in London.

Notable past Special Recognition award winners have included Alan Bates, leading campaigner on the Post Office Scandal, and Captain Sir Tom Moore who inspired Britain at 100 years old with his lockdown walking challenge.

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