By SARAH HARKER

A HAEMOPHILIAC is refusing vital treatment because of fears over contaminated blood.

Michael Kenwright's blood clotting deficiency means he suffers from spontaneous internal bleeding. When this occurs he injects himself with factor eight, a clotting agent.

But Michael, from Grappenhall, along with other haemophiliacs in the UK, has joined a treatment 'strike', refusing to use factor eight due to the danger of infection from AIDs, Hepatitis C and CJD.

Although the treatment is heat-treated and detergent-washed, this does not make it 100 per cent safe from contamination.

Michael, aged 50, said: "Every time I inject myself with factor eight, I am wondering whether this will be the shot that kills me or condemns me to a life of misery it's like playing a game of Russian roulette. I am actively seeking the recombinent treatment from other sources since the NHS refuse to provide it.

"The government would say I was seeking it on the black market, but it's not like that no money is exchanged, it is simply friends helping friends, sufferers helping each other."

Michael claims that 130 patients have died in the UK after being infected with hepatitis C and 700 have died from AIDs through contamination in the treatment.

He fears that since the main source of plasma is from the USA, where blood donors are paid and screening processes are not as stringent as in the UK, the risk of contamination is too high. He says it is believed that hepatitis C has claimed the lives of more haemophiliacs than the condition itself would have done if sufferers had been given no treatment at all.

He and other patients are angry that although a safe alternative treatment is available it is only provided to sufferers who are under 16 in the UK, even though haemophiliacs in Scotland and Wales have access to the safe treatment regardless of age.

"I am angry that the government are gambling with our lives, we should be using safe treatments until we are assured safety of others not the other way round. I have evidence that CJD contaminated factor was withdrawn from patients already using it and that the NHS were advised not to inform patients of the contamination."

Anyone who would like to know more about the campaign for a public inquiry into the contamination can call Michael on 268874.

North Cheshire Health Authority was unavailable for comment.