I had no idea I had hep C for 40 years – my GP failed to tell me I tested positive as it slowly destroyed my life
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FRANK Jamieson says his GP practice failed to tell him he had a potentially deadly virus - more than 20 years after he tested positive.
'It has ruined my life", the 58-year-old, from Inverclyde, in Scotland, said.
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Frank believes hepatitis C might have affected his ability to have children
Credit: SWNS
"I have suffered from depression for a long time and have lost everything".
Frank was only told last October that he had hepatitis C, which he likely contracted 40 years ago during a leg operation after a road accident in 1984.
Hep C is a blood-borne virus which, left untreated, can cause liver cancer and liver failure.
It usually displays no symptoms until the virus damages the liver enough to cause liver disease, at which point it can cause fatigue and difficulty concentrating.
'My health was so bad, and I had no idea why," Frank said.
"It turned out they were all symptoms of hep C,' he added.
It is also linked to cardiovascular disease, mental health issues, kidney disease and musculoskeletal pain.
Frank's infection is part of the wider contaminated blood scandal, which saw thousands in Scotland and the UK infected with hepatitis C and HIV from NHS blood products in the 1970s and 80s.
He later discovered his GP surgery, Ardgowan Medical Practice in Greenock, knew he tested positive back in 2002, with results confirmed in January 2003.
'The surgery had my results but they never passed them on,' Frank said.
Infected Blood Inquiry: Police should look into prosecutions says Labour MP
'After all those years of going to the doctor, and that information being on my file, they are blaming me.'
Frank's positive test came just as he and his now wife were preparing for another round of IVF.
'I had my blood tests taken in late 2002 because my now wife and I were set to go through another round of IVF,' he said.
'We had two unsuccessful tries on the NHS and were going to pay for a third.'
But that Christmas, both lost their jobs when the company closed, halting their plans.
'Our lives fell apart. We still got married, but we couldn't afford the IVF, so we weren't able to try again,' Frank explained.
What is the infected blood scandal?
More than 30,000 people in the UK were infected with HIV and hepatitis C after being given contaminated blood products in the 1970s and 1980s.
As many as 140,000 bereaved parents, children and siblings of victims may also be able to claim compensation in their own right
Two main groups of NHS patients were affected by what has been called the biggest treatment disaster in the history of the NHS.
Firstly, haemophiliacs - and those with similar disorders - who have a rare genetic condition which means their blood does not clot properly.
People with haemophilia A have a shortage of a clotting agent called Factor VIII, while people with haemophilia B do not have enough Factor IX.
In the 1970s, a new treatment using donated human blood plasma was developed to replace these clotting agents.
But entire batches were contaminated with deadly viruses.
After being given the infected treatments, about 1,250 people in the UK with bleeding disorders went on to develop both HIV and hepatitis C, including 380 children.
About two-thirds later died of Aids-related illnesses. Some unintentionally gave HIV to their partners.
Another 2,400 to 5,000 people developed hepatitis C on its own, which can cause cirrhosis and liver cancer.
It is difficult to know the exact number of people infected with hepatitis C, partly because it can take decades for symptoms to appear.
A second group of patients were given contaminated blood transfusions after childbirth, surgery or other medical treatment between 1970 and 1991.
The inquiry estimates that between 80 and 100 of these people were infected with HIV, and about 27,000 with hepatitis C.
In total, it is thought about 2,900 people have died.
He added: 'Hepatitis C can cause infertility. We would have known that then if we'd had the results.'
The practice told Frank patients had to call within seven days for test results - but they have no record of him ever making that call.
'I asked them, where were the results all those years? Were they sitting in a drawer until I phoned?' he added.
The virus caused Frank severe health problems, including nerve and joint pain and Raynaud's phenomenon - symptoms that appeared five years ago.
'I have been suicidal'
Fortunately, Frank, who worked as an engineer until ill health forced him to give up work, is now free of hep C after undergoing anti-viral treatment.
He is now under the care of the SAMH charity (Scottish Action for Mental Health) as well as the NHS's local community mental health team.
They are helping him manage his depression and ongoing health challenges.
'I have been suicidal,' he said. 'Right now, I don't want to be here.'
Frank hopes to raise awareness so others in Inverclyde don't suffer the same fate.
'There might be other people out there who have missed blood test results, who have hep C or something else and who don't know,' he warned.
Now free of the virus after antiviral treatment, Frank is determined to hold his GP practice accountable.
'I want justice. I want to be heard, and I want Ardgowan Medical Practice to take responsibility for what happened,' he said.
His complaints to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman were rejected due to the passage of time.
But Frank is pursuing support through the Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme - a body that helps people infected by NHS blood products with compensation and support.
'My journey is just beginning,' he said.
Ardgowan Medical Practice declined to comment when approached by the Greenock Telegraph.
The Sun has also contacted the Practice, who again, declined to comment.
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