The Chronicle (South Tyneside and Durham)
Tribute paid to blood scandal campaigners amid calls for compensation
GOVERNMENT URGED TO ‘GET ON WITH IT’
VICTIMS of the contaminated blood scandal have reminded the Government that they are dying while waiting for justice.
The Government faces more pressure to “get on with it” and provide full compensation – with opposition politicians also pledging to act on the issue should it stretch past the next election.
This comes as members of the House of Lords have also paid tribute to the decades-long campaigning of Jesmond’s Carol Grayson as they continue to debate new legislation which would force the Government to speed up action, too.
The scandal has seen thousands die to date after being given contaminated blood products on the NHS which infected them with viruses like HIV and hepatitis.
In 2023, Sir Brian Langstaff, the independent chair of the Infected Blood Inquiry, made his final recommendations as to compensation – and there has been widespread anger that these have yet to be acted upon.
The Government continues to say it is working at pace to provide redress, but says it will respond in full when Sir Brian delivers his final inquiry report. The former High Court judge has already said he has said all he will say on the matter of compensation.
The Haemophilia Society held a demonstration outside of the Houses of Parliament in London on Wednesday, with figures including Northumberland MP Ian Lavery addressing those gathered. Following this, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer met with victims inside Westminster Hall and, asked if he would resolved the compensation delays if Labour came to power, said “yes”, but that he hoped the matter would be resolved before this.
Stephen Flynn, the leader of the Scottish National Party in Westminster, also called on the Chancellor to set aside funds to urgently compensate the victims in his spring Budget next Wednesday.
Northumberland’s Sean Cavens, a haemophiliac, is one of the youngest people to have been infected with hepatitis.
Data obtained by Sean showed how there had been at least 680 deaths since the Infected Blood Inquiry was announced in 2017 which works out at around two people dying each week.
He said further compensation payments “should start tomorrow” and added: “Put simply... Get on with it.”
This week has also seen Baroness Brinton pay tribute to Jesmond’s Carol Grayson during a House of Lords debate. Baroness Brinton highlighted her work over thirty years. Carol – along with husband Peter, a haemophiliac who died due to HIV – spent decades pursuing pharmaceutical companies and politicians for justice.
The peer said: “I pay particular tribute to two indomitable women who are still campaigning after 30-plus years – Colette Wintle and Carol Grayson. Colette and Carol, along with thousands of other victims, have been lied to, pushed away and denied justice by officials. This is also coming out in the inquiry.
“No wonder Sir Brian is urging the Government to ensure that they start right now with expanding the scheme to include affected persons, implementing interim payments and moving as fast as possible to a full settlement.”
A Government spokesperson said: “We are clear that justice needs to be delivered for the victims and have already accepted the moral case for compensation.”