A victim of the infected blood scandal has demanded the Government says when it will publish a key document that has been promised for eight months.
In June, the Government published a study into what a "framework for compensation " for those infected and affected by the scandal would look like, produced by top lawyer Sir Robert Francis KC. It pledged to publish its full response to Sir Robert's 19 recommendations - but has yet to do so.
Last week, in a Westminster Hall debate about the compensation framework, minister Alex Burghart appeared to row back on the promise to publish the Government position before the ongoing Infected Blood Inquiry concludes early next year. However it has now been indicated to The Times that the response - which would detail the Government position on 19 recommendations - will come before that.
Read more: Contaminated blood inquiry finds much higher rate of HIV infection in children
Asked by ChronicleLive when that would be, the Cabinet Office has yet to clarify its position, but a spokesperson told the Sunday Times that "details" on the compensation framework would be published "before the inquiry concludes". The scandal - often called "the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS" - saw thousands of haemophiliacs infected with lethal viruses like HIV and hepatitis. Others were infected via blood transfusion.
The recommendations highlight the need to set up compensation schemes catering to infected people and their families and the that "the Government should set out a framework of tariff based compensation for eligible infected and affected persons". Other recommendations included the establishment of financial support, advice and counselling services and of a new arms-length body to administer compensation.
Interim compensation payments have been made to some, but not all, of those affected, but the final figures they are likely to be awarded will far outstrip the £100,000 payment given so far.
Bedlington 's Sean Cavens - one of the youngest victims of the scandal who was given contaminated Factor 9 treatment as a baby in Scotland to for his haemophilia and was infected with Hepatitis C - said it was long past time for the Government to outline how it will support those infected and affected.
He said: "The problem with the leak, as with previous statements from a 'Government spokesperson' to the media, is it's too vague. Technically, the inquiry has already concluded. The evidence sessions are complete. The next stage is oral submissions from the legal reps. Therefore will they respond to Sir Roberts report when they’re finished?"
Sean highlighted that he felt the Government needed to set up a system to register those who would be owed compensation and he added: "My main message is get on with responding and give us a date. No more lies. No more delays."
During last week's debate, Sean's MP Ian Lavery raised his case again. Mr Lavery said: "This is not just about those who suffered; it is about their families, the carers—everyone who has been affected. For example, what consideration have the Government given to the lifelong effect of infected blood on child development, as well as life expectancy? It is so damaging, but we hear very little about it."
He added: "I will talk about the time when Sean Cavens, who is 41, came to see me. He was furious. I was unaware of the scale of the issue, and ignorant of the contaminated blood situation.
"He explained how difficult it had been. He gave me a tie—black for the dead, red for HIV victims and yellow for hepatitis C victims. Many of us have the ribbon on our lapel. Since then, I have been privileged to be part of the campaign."
During the debate, Mr Burghart said that the Government would "do everything in our power" to support those infected and affected and added: "There is much work still to be done. Sir Robert’s compensation framework study has been warmly welcomed by the inquiry, and without prejudicing the findings of the independent inquiry, we fully expect Sir Robert’s wider recommendations to inform the inquiry’s final report when it is published next year.
"Until that time, the Government will continue to work in consideration of the broader recommendations of the compensation framework study so that we are ready to respond promptly when the inquiry concludes its work, as was our intention when we commissioned the study."
Following the debate, Dame Diana Johnson and Sir Peter Bottomley, the MPs who co-chair the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Haemophilia and Contaminated Blood, wrote to the Prime Minister to highlight how not to publish the Government response in a timely manner would be "extremely damaging".
The Sunday Times reported a Cabinet Office spokesperson as saying: "While this is a complex process, we remain committed to publishing details on the compensation framework before the inquiry concludes. We will also consider and respond to any recommendations relating to compensation in the inquiry’s final report."
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