A CAMPAIGN to urge anyone who had a blood transfusion in Scotland before September 1991 to make sure they have been tested for hepatitis C is being launched by the Scottish Government.

Taking steps to offer tests to those who may unknowingly have the infection was the single recommendation made by the Penrose Inquiry, which examined how thousands of people were infected with hepatitis C and HIV through NHS blood products in the 1970s and 1980s.

Around 400,000 posters and leaflets will be distributed to GP surgeries, hospitals, care homes and pharmacies across Scotland. Doctors are also being reminded of the need to offer tests for hepatitis C to certain at risk groups.

Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “The working group which we established to look into this estimated that the number of people infected with Hepatitis C via transfusion who have still not been diagnosed will be very small.

“However, it is possible there may be some people with mild symptoms who are living with this illness and don’t know it.”