Victims of tainted blood are denied legal funds

‘Side-lined as second class’

VICTIMS of the contaminated blood scandal have spoken of their ‘complete disbelief’ at being refused legal funding to prepare for an upcoming public inquiry.

Campaigners said the Cabinet Office was fuelling feelings that victims and their families were being treated ‘as cheaply and as insultingly as possible’.

The blood scandal, which took place in the late 19 0s to early 1980s, saw the NHS use supplies imported from the US that had been donated by high-risk groups such as prostitutes and drug addicts.

An estimated ,500, many with the blood-clotting disorder haemophilia, contracted hepatitis or HIV as a result.

Efforts by relatives to prove that the Government or NHS knew the blood products put lives at risk led to Theresa May last year announcing a public inquiry. But it was yesterday revealed that those involved have been told they will not be receiving legal funding to debate the consultation on the inquiry’s terms of reference.

Jason Evans, founder of campaign group Factor 8, claimed this was despite being told by Sue Gray – one of the most influential civil servants in Whitehall – last December that they would do.

The decision came a day after Kensington and Chelsea Borough Council announced it was setting aside £3.5million in legal fees for those affected by the Grenfell Tower fire.

A letter from the Cabinet Office said the blood consultation had been designed to be ‘accessible, anonymous and user-friendly’ – therefore legal advice was not necessary.

Mr Evans and the heads of eight other campaign groups yesterday wrote to the Cabinet Office detailing their ‘complete disbelief and anger’.

The letter said: ‘We do not intend on being side-lined as second class and unworthy of the same representation afforded to others.’