Government makes major changes to infected blood compensation

The government said that the infected blood scandal has made “important changes” in the compensation plan for thousands of victims.

The announcement was made in parliament two weeks after a critical report to the public payment plan by the president of the investigation on disaster.

Cabinet Office Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds said he wanted to reassure people who are “too much disappointed”.

The groups of the victims “welcomed the announcement carefully,” but he said that some changes were exposed to more consultation.

After the contaminated blood products were given in NHS, 30,000 people in the 1970s, 80s and 90s are thought to be infected with HIV, Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C.

Investigation The main report of the scandal published last year, At that time, very little was done to stop the importation of contaminated blood products from abroad and the elements of the scandal were covered by health authorities.

At the beginning of this month, the investigation chair Sir Brian Langstaff, Published a 200 -page follow -up report After receiving concerns about the government’s compensation plan for the victims’ compensation plan for the victims, after receiving the “E -post -mail E -mail”.

This described the speed at which payments were made as “deeply unsatisfied”, and said that the victims were “more damaged” as they were treated in the last 12 months.

Responding to the parliament, the government said that he would immediately accept seven of the 16 advice by the investigation into the design of the plan, and others would be subjected to consultation with the victims.

Infected blood compensation authority (IBCA), a trunk of a weapon length established by ministers to manage payments, said that he would accept all of the 11 proposals separately under his duty.

The changes include:

• Instead of waiting for people to be invited, a new system will be created that allows them to register for compensation.
• Support payments for the widows of those who die in the scandal will be restored until the compensation requests are finalized.
• People who are infected with HIV before the date of 1982 can now claim compensation, before being inappropriate
• The size of an additional payment for victims subject to unethical medical research will be reviewed together with the type of patient.

Thomas-Symonds said: “Since we are moving forward, our focus should not only give justice to everyone affected, but also to bring back the trust in the state to people who disappoint too much.”

The compensation plan is open to family members, including parents, children and siblings who can claim compensation on their own as an influenced person and as a scandal.

In accordance with the old rules, the family members who died before their claims would not receive any compensation.

This has changed now, so if they die before 31 December 2031, their payments can pass their property.

The government will also consult a number of other issues such as how the schema recognizes the effect of interferon treatment for hepatitis C, which is connected to severe side effects, and how severe psychological damage is recognized.

Thomas-Symonds said that changes would cost £ 1 billion above £ 11.8 billion, which was put aside to pay compensation throughout this parliament. An update will be made for the total cost in the coming autumn budget.

Tained Blood President Andy Evans, a group representing 1,600 victims and their families, welcomed the announcement, but said that some problems, including the level of compensation for the victims of hepatitis, are still not properly handled.

“The government is listening to us clearly. It is embarrassing that the investigation is more shameful for him to take our concerns seriously, but I hope this statement points to the beginning of a better working relationship.” He said.

He continued: “We must step forward to ensure that this compensation plan provides as much justice as possible for all the victims of this scandal.”