Ann Dorricott, widow of Mike Dorricott, along with her family, today gave evidence at the Infected Blood Public Inquiry in Leeds.

Ann’s husband Mike, a haemophiliac, died in 2015 at the age of just 47 from liver cancer linked to Hepatitis C. He was given contaminated given Factor VIII before routine dental surgery when he was a teenager, which was intended to help manage bleeding. Mike didn’t realise he was ill, until many years later he was tested for Hepatitis C and was found to be infected.

Mike Dorricott received two liver transplants to extend his life, but the cancer returned each time.

The family subsequently met with their local MP, former Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Jeremy Hunt, now one of the final candidates to become UK Prime Minister.

At the time, the family understood from Mr Hunt that he was very moved by their story and that he would help them to access ongoing support and compensation. While no specific support was made available to the Dorricott family, he did successfully make the case to Theresa May for a full public inquiry into the infected contaminated blood scandal.

Conversely, Boris Johnson is quoted as having said on LBC Radio in March 2019: “I think an awful lot of money, an awful lot of police time, now goes into these historic offences and all this malarkey – £60 million I saw was being spaffed up the wall on some investigation into historic child abuse and all this kind of thing.”

Des Collins, Senior Partner of Collins Solicitors, representing over 1,000 victims and their families as well as eight campaign groups, comments:

“It is clear that as one of the two remaining candidates for Prime Minister, Jeremy Hunt – though recently very quiet on the subject – has been a behind-the-scenes supporter of the Infected Blood Public Inquiry; unlike Boris Johnson who has been publicly scathing about the need for Public Inquiries which investigate major historic injustices.

The victims of infected blood products, and their families, now call on Mr Hunt to commit to full compensation for all those infected and affected by this terrible tragedy should he get the keys to Number 10.”

Press contacts:

• Des Collins, Senior Partner, Collins Solicitors, T) 01923 223 324, M) 07831 522 540 dcollins@collinslaw.co.uk:
• Danielle Holliday, Partner, Collins Solicitors, T) 01923 223 324, M) 07540 531 753 dholliday@collinslaw.co.uk:
• Will Hulbert, PR, Hulbert & Co, T) 01603 431 936, M) 07774 108 699 will@hulbertandco.com: