Victims of the infected blood scandal could receive a total of £10billion in compensation, as the Prime Minister is set to make an apology today.
In the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, 30,000 people were infected with hepatitis C and HIV through infected blood transfusions, with about 3,000 of them dying after contracting either illness. Many people may still be unknowingly living with these conditions as the symptoms can take a long time to appear.
Chancellor Jeremey Hunt is now set to approve a compensation package for the victims following the publication of the inquiry’s final report today, whilst Rishi Sunak is expected to issue an apology which will acknowledge the failings of the state and the suffering experienced by many.
Hunt said: “This is the worst scandal of my lifetime. I think that the families have got every right to be incredibly angry that generations of politicians, including me when I was health secretary, have not acted fast enough to address the scandal.
Infected blood scandal victims could receive major £10bn in compensation amid final inquiryPA“Rishi Sunak and I both believe the delays have gone on too long and now is the time for justice,” he told The Times.
Hunt has yet to confirm the cost of the compensation scheme, but it could be announced as soon as Tuesday (May 21).
A Government source said it would be a “tariff-based scheme” based on what each individual had to endure.
Millions of pounds have already been given by ministers to about 4,000 victims of the scandal as well as bereaved relatives, with the Government stating it accepts a “moral case” for compensation.
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Some of the 3,000 victims of the blood scandal
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A Government spokesperson described the infected blood scandal as “an appalling tragedy that never should have happened”.
In 2015, the Prime Minister at the time David Cameron apologised for the scandal following a report into its impact in Scotland, whilst his successor, Theresa May, announced the public inquiry in 2017.
The inquiry has cost more than £130million and has heard from hundreds of witnesses, including doctors, politicians and victims.
The findings, which will be published today, have examined whether the contaminated treatments should have been stopped sooner and whether there were attempts to cover up the situation.
Kate Burt, chief of the Haemophilia Society, said: “The Infected Blood Inquiry’s findings today will shock every single person in the UK who cares about truth and accountability from our public servants.
Sunak will make a speech to apologise for the scandal later today
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The findings of a report into the scandal which will be published today
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“For decades, governments have dismissed the pain and suffering of those impacted by this scandal and refused to acknowledge the enormity of their failure.”
She added: “For the sake of the thousands of people who have died and those whose lives continue to be blighted by this terrible scandal, it is vital that the inquiry’s recommendations are acted upon.”
Andy Evans, the Tainted Blood campaign group chairman, who was infected with hepatitis C as a child through his haemophilia treatment, said the report’s publication would be a “defining” moment.
“From the very beginning, victims have been gas-lit by the Government saying that the treatment was the best available and every decision was made with the best intention and with the best information they had available at the time,” he told the BBC.
“Through the course of the inquiry, that's proven to be false. The testimony that we've heard, both from victims and from people in office and the NHS, has shown that that wasn't true.”
