Women were 'gaslit' over infected blood

WOMEN infected with hepatitis C after being given infected blood during childbirth have described how they were "fobbed off" and "gaslit" by medics as they fought to seek help for symptoms linked to the virus.

Many were told they were suffering from conditions including depression, allergies or irritable bowel syndrome as doctors failed to spot that they were trying to fight off the infection.

Doctors thought many women were alcoholics and refused to believe them when they said they had stopped drinking as their liver problems persisted.

Many women waited decades before they were diagnosed with hepatitis C and the delay means many have serious and ongoing health issues.