Caroline Wheeler

Lobby journalist and The Sunday Times political editor Caroline Wheeler, whose two-decade coverage of the contaminated blood scandal helped to trigger a public inquiry, tells the stories of the individuals and families caught up in the tragedy and the ensuing fight for justice.

Almost 5,000 people contracted HIV or hepatitis C after being infected by contaminated NHS blood products in the 1970s and 1980s. More than 2,800 are known to have died and tens of thousands of family lives have been affected. Wheeler has been reporting on the scandal for more than two decades and has played a key part in the victims’ and families’ fight for justice. Prime Minister Theresa May finally agreed to an inquiry in 2019, and the findings are expected to be published in 2023.

Wheeler has been a lobby journalist for 18 years. Her work has been credited with helping to bring about the inquiry by the likes of former health secretary Andy Burnham.

This event is part of a series on the uncovering of public scandals and on campaigns against injustice.