Carol Grayson wins award for contaminated blood campaigning

Oct 15 2009 by Helen Rae, The Journal

A WIDOW who was pivotal in securing an inquiry into the contaminated blood scandal has won a top international award for her work.

Carol Grayson, of Jesmond, Newcastle, lost her haemophiliac husband Peter Longstaff in 2005 after he contracted HIV and hepatitis C from infected NHS blood products in the 1970s and 1980s.

For nearly 20 years, the 49-year-old former nurse has actively campaigned for Government compensation to victims of infected NHS blood transfusions.

Ms Grayson recently visited the US capital, Washington, DC to meet members of a Congressional panel on US blood safety and received the International Action=Life award from the Committee of Ten Thousand Advocates for Persons with HIV/AIDS and HCV.

The award, which was for Carol and her late husband, aims to recognise and salute the courage, persistence, commitment, dedication and loyalty to the global haemophilia community.

Ms Grayson, chairwoman of Haemophilia Action UK, said: “It was a huge surprise and honour to be given the award, but most of all I was delighted the work of my husband was recognised because to me he is an unsung hero.