Blood scandal campaigners slam 'pathetic' Government words after more delay in setting up full compensation; Sean Cavens has been among those to hit out at the Government's continued defiance of calls to set up a body to deliver full compensation to victims of the contaminated blood scandal.
Byline: By, Sam Volpe
Victims of the contaminated blood scandal have slammed yet more Governmental delay after "pathetic words" from the minister in charge of the issue.
Those infected and affected by the scandal reacted with fury this week to a statement published by Paymaster General Jeremy Quin in which he said the Government would still wait until the Infected Blood Inquiry's chair Sir Brian Langstaff delivers his final report into what's become known as the NHS's "biggest ever treatment disaster" before responding to calls to set up a full compensation scheme.
The scandal saw thousands of people infected with HIV and other lethal viruses through NHS blood products. A large proportion of those were haemophiliacs who were reliant on regular treatments to manage what is a potentially life-threatening bleeding condition.
They were given blood factor treatments -including at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle -which they were told would enable them to live safer and healthier lives. This was not the case. Evidence at the Infected Blood Inquiry has heard how medics knew there were risks to using blood products like this.
Earlier this year, Sir Brian -a former High Court Judge -made the unusual step of writing a second interim report in which he called on the Government to set up a full compensation scheme before the end of 2023. The Government has not done so, repeatedly stating that it feels it necessary to wait for the final inquiry report, which has now been delayed to next year.
Sir Brian's interim report was explicitly created with the suggestion that the Government should not feel bound to wait. Northumberland's Sean Cavens, a haemophiliac who was infected with hepatitis, slammed Mr Quin's latest statement.
Sean said that if there was "no action" the Government shouldn't bother with "gestures" -and that the delays to work on a full compensation scheme were "compounding harm". He added: "They had no intention to respond in the autumn if [the Infected Blood Inquiry] reported then! This Conservative Government are a disgrace and continue to impact mine and others' mental health! Pathetic words."
In the House of Commons, Dame Diana Johnson MP also raised the issue. She said: "Today, after I had asked for a statement from the Paymaster General on the recently announced delay to the infected blood inquiry's final report, a short, 193-word statement has been laid by the Government.
"That number is in stark contrast to the 485 people...
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