SCOTTISH victims of the NHS contaminated blood scandal have welcomed the announcement of £100,000 compensation payments as a “pivotal step” in their battle for justice – but warned there is “still much to be done”.
The payments have been announced after the chair of an inquiry examining the scandal called for compensation to be made “without delay” because of their “profound physical and mental suffering”.
Thousands of people given blood products or transfusions were infected with HIV and hepatitis during the 1970s and 1980s, in what has been labelled the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS.
The UK Government said it intends to make payments to those who have been infected and bereaved partners who qualify for financial support in England by the end of October, while the same payments will be made in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Haemophilia Scotland has welcomed the announcement, but said details have yet to be clarified including when the money will be available for distribution through the Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme.
Concerns have also been raised that most family members affected by the scandal will miss out on these interim payments.
Bill Wright, chair of Haemophilia Scotland, said: “This is a pivotal step in that government have finally acknowledged that compensation should be paid, rather than the previous policy of ‘support’. Compensation implies acknowledgement of wrong doing.
“We will have to await the full findings of the UK Infected Blood inquiry to establish just how wrongly governments have acted in the past but we can now start to move forward toward a situation where the infected and bereaved partners can start to get on with their lives more positively.”
The independent UK-wide infected blood inquiry, chaired by Sir Brian Langstaff, began taking evidence in 2019, with final recommendations from a public inquiry on compensation for a wider group of people – such as bereaved parents and the children of victims – expected when it concludes next year.
The seven-year Penrose inquiry previously examined the issue of contaminated blood in Scotland, but was labelled a “whitewash” by victims.
Wright added: “Much remains to be done however, particularly for the sons, daughters and parents of those infected particularly where HIV or hepatitis C has ultimately resulted in the loss of life.
"So we still have a lot of work to do to ensure that all those affected get the full compensation they deserve.
“The Infected Blood Inquiry has been a long and harrowing process. On its completion next summer we hope that Governments across the UK will finally act to ensure that all impacted by this catastrophe are able to move on and the NHS and Government take the action needed to avoid all the failures that resulted in such a disaster.”
Most of the victims of the scandal – which included an estimated 3000 in Scotland – had the blood-clotting disorder haemophilia and relied on regular injections of the US product Factor VIII to survive.
They were unaware they were receiving contaminated Factor VIII from people who were paid to donate, including prisoners and drug addicts.
Patients were given the product for years despite repeated warnings at the top of government, and say they were never warned of the risks and the scandal was covered up.
New cases of HIV and hepatitis continued to be diagnosed decades after the first contaminations, resulting in many early deaths.
Outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “While nothing can make up for the pain and suffering endured by those affected by this tragic injustice, we are taking action to do right by victims and those who have tragically lost their partners by making sure they receive these interim payments as quickly as possible.
“We will continue to stand by all those impacted by this horrific tragedy, and I want to personally pay tribute to all those who have so determinedly fought for justice.”
