Blood scandal victims press for quicker payout
VICTIMS of the contaminated blood scandal say they are dying while they wait for justice.
The scandal has seen thousands die after being given contaminated blood products on the NHS and they are putting pressure on the Government to “get on with it” and provide full compensation.
Opposition politicians also pledging to act on the issue, which saw patients infected with viruses such as HIV and hepatitis, should it stretch past the next election.
Haemophiliacs were particularly affected as the blood factor treatments they were given to treat their condition were tainted.
The call comes as members of the House of Lords 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.
In 2023, Sir Brian Langstaff, the independent chair of the Infected Blood Inquiry, made his final recommendations and there has been widespread anger that these have yet to be acted upon, as Sir Brian has confirmed he had said all he plans to say about compensation.
However the Government says it is working at pace but will respond in full when Sir Brian delivers his final inquiry report.
The Haemophilia Society held a demonstration outside of the Houses of Parliament earlier this week, which was addressed by figures including Northumberland MP Ian Lavery.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer met victims and said the compensation delays would be resolved if Labour came to power 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 of the infected blood scandal in his spring Budget next Wednesday.
Since Sir Brian recommended an arms-length body be set up and compensation paid last April, close to 100 victims of the scandal has died.
Northumberland’s Sean Cavens, a haemophiliac who is one of the youngest people to have been infected with hepatitis, puts the number at around 94. Data Sean obtained showed how there had been at least 680 deaths - or around two per week - since the Infected Blood Inquiry was announced in 2017.
He said further compensation payments “should start tomorrow” and added: “Put simply... Get on with it.”
Baroness Brinton this week paid tribute to Jesmond’s Carol Grayson during a House of Lords debate, highlighting her work over 30 years.
Carol and her 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 were part of a small group that in 2007 sued four pharma companies-Bayer, Baxter, Alpha and Armour--in the US, who had used contaminated blood from prisoners to make factor 8, which the NHS bought and used without any warning to patients and their families.
“The American judge acknowledged that the pharma companies had used infected blood but disallowed the case on a technicality, saying that the duty of care for patients in the UK lay with the NHS and therefore the UK Government. But the Government did nothing.
“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: “This was an appalling tragedy and our thoughts remain with all those impacted. We are clear that justice needs to be delivered for the victims and have already accepted the moral case for compensation.
“This covers a set of extremely complex issues, and it is right we fully consider the needs of the community and the far-reaching impact that this scandal has had on their lives. The Government intends to respond in full to Sir Brian’s recommendations for wider compensation following the publication of the inquiry’s final report.”