Jeremy Hunt Urged to Honour Pledge on Infected Blood Compensation Payouts

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Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is facing mounting pressure to fulfill his promise of immediate compensation payments totaling up to £10 billion to the victims of the contaminated blood scandal, as the final report on the disaster is set to be published on Monday. Described as the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS, the contaminated blood scandal resulted in more than 3,000 deaths from the 1970s and 1980s due to tainted blood products. The grim legacy continues, with an individual infected during the scandal dying approximately every four days.

 

In 2022, when Hunt was chair of the all-party health select committee, he urged prompt action, stressing the urgency of compensating victims before more lives were lost. As Chancellor, Hunt later acknowledged that compensation costs could be substantial. Now, with a looming £10 billion compensation bill, Hunt faces a significant challenge in balancing this with his goal of delivering pre-election tax cuts. On Monday, Labour will demand immediate and full compensation payments to victims, criticizing the government's prolonged delays. The final report by Sir Brian Langstaff is expected to detail the extensive impact of the scandal, with over 30,000 haemophiliacs or transfusion recipients infected with HIV or hepatitis C, leading to nearly 2,900 deaths by the end of 2019.

 

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is anticipated to offer a formal apology on behalf of successive governments in a statement to the House of Commons early next week. Labour’s shadow minister without portfolio, Nick Thomas-Symonds, emphasized the urgency of addressing the victims' long wait for justice: “Victims have waited far too long for a proper apology and final compensation scheme. They should wait no longer.” In July 2022, Langstaff urged for immediate compensation, advocating for payments of no less than £100,000 to infected individuals and their bereaved partners. Despite these recommendations, significant interim payments have yet to be made.

 

Diana Johnson, Labour MP and chair of the all-party parliamentary group on haemophilia and contaminated blood, has been a relentless advocate for the victims. She insists, “Compensation should be paid as quickly as possible by this government. We cannot wait for any future government to do the right thing, when we know one person still dies on average every three and a half days from the scandal.” Johnson also criticized the government’s inaction on making further interim payments to children who lost parents and parents who lost children, as recommended by Sir Brian in April 2023.

 

Former health secretary and current Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, highlighted the scandal as indicative of a broader systemic failure within Whitehall. He condemned the longstanding refusal of civil servants to acknowledge the dangers of contaminated blood despite clear evidence, suggesting this was influenced by the Treasury's early stance against admitting liability. Burnham drew parallels to other major scandals, such as Hillsborough and the Post Office scandal, criticizing the unethical denial of reality and the abandonment of victims. Burnham stated emphatically, “Full compensation had to be paid out immediately. Anything else would be reprehensible and immoral.”

 

The publication of the inquiry's final report marks a critical moment for the thousands affected by the scandal. As Hunt contemplates the financial implications amidst political and public pressure, the government's response will be closely watched. Immediate and full compensation is seen by many as not only a financial obligation but a moral imperative to rectify decades of injustice and suffering endured by the victims of this tragic episode in NHS history.

 

Credit: The Guardian 2024-05-20

 

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[brianthainess]

America sent the UK known badly infected blood and IMO should be held partly to blame. just saying.

[johng]

Of course we can all be assured (cos the guberment says so) that there are not any other recent medical issues being covered up..lets hope these victims don't have to wait 40 years before being recognised and compensated.