After Government figures met with some victims of the contaminated blood scandal this week, campaigners in the North East have hit out at being excluded - and questioned whether the impending departure of top civil servant Sue Gray will further delay their search for justice.
The contaminated blood scandal saw thousands, especially haemophiliacs, infected with lethal viruses like hepatitis C and HIV through tainted NHS blood products. The Government has taken almost a year to respond in full to a key report put together by Sir Robert Francis KC - which laid out a potential framework for compensating those infected and affected by the scandal, which has been repeatedly described as the biggest ever NHS treatment disaster.
The Government awarded interim compensation to some, but not all, of those affected last year, but has been criticised for slow progress in responding to the 19 recommendations Sir Robert made. Pushed to explain its progress, it held a meeting with some campaign groups this week.
