GPs in England will help the NHS discover more undiagnosed patients affected by the contaminated blood scandal.

It is believed that in the 1970s, 80s and 90s, thousands of people were exposed to hepatitis C virus through contaminated blood transfusions. Part of the scandal affected more than 30,000 people in the UK.

Starting from June, patients in GP clinics that will undergo blood transfusions before 1996 will be tested for hepatitis B.

The BBC revealed the scale of undiagnosed cases last year as people with life-threatening liver damage caused by the virus continue to be discovered over the years.

Now modern antiviral drugs can treat hepatitis C to eliminate the virus in most patients.

However, if not found and not diagnosed, there may be no obvious symptoms for a period of time and it can infect the liver and cause serious damage, which will make the organ unable to repair.

Maureen Arkley, who died last year, was diagnosed with hepatitis C and cirrhosis in 2023, more than 40 years after her surgery involving multiple blood transfusions. These were on her medical records, but none of her GP or anyone in the NHS told her she could have been exposed to the virus.

BBC News highlighted her case because of the lack of tests after the blood infection scandal, one of many.

It is one of the biggest therapeutic disasters in the history of the NHS - 3,000 people were infected with HIV and hepatitis B after being contaminated with blood products.

Many victims are hemophilia patients who are given infected blood products as part of treatment.

Thousands of people have been subjected to accidents, emergencies or after delivery using contaminated blood transfusions.

Maureen was diagnosed five months in February 2024 and died 47 years after a blood transfusion infected her.

"The end is so terrible, and after her death she weighs less than four stones."

NHS England said that about 400,000 people were born each year before 1996 and they would be asked if they had ever been transfusions through the online GP registry.

This is the action recommended in the Infectious Blood Inquiry Report published in May 2024.

If a previous blood transfusion is confirmed, a finger-pull test is used and the patient will be able to test hepatitis C at home and then post it to the lab for analysis.

NHS England says testing can also be performed in GP surgery, sexual health clinics and elsewhere.

The Charitable Hepatitis C Trust also encourages anyone who had blood transfusions before 1996, including current GP patients.

"Every two weeks, we're infected with hepatitis B through blood transfusions every two weeks," said Rachel Halford, the charity's CEO.

"All of these people have had hepatitis C for more than 30 years; some are seriously ill. A more proactive approach is crucial for those who don't understand their infection."

Professor Stephen Powis, director of medicine at NHS England, said the "simple changes" to the GP registration process is a "important step forward" to ensure that no one is affected by the contaminated blood, "undiagnosed and unsupported".

He added: “The failure of the contaminated blood scandal has had a horrific impact on patients and their families for decades, and I would like to reiterate our deepest apology for the role of health services in suffering and many people.”

Health officials say the risk of infection from blood transfusions or blood products is very low since blood donations were introduced.

Since September 1991, all blood donations have been screened for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.