Commenting on the announcement that the Government has agreed to make an interim payment to directly affected victims of the contaminated blood scandal, Des Collins, senior partner at Collins Solicitors, says:

“This is welcome news for those still with us whose lives and health have been blighted by the infected blood scandal. Many of them can’t work and desperately need funds to survive. It is also an important sign that the wheels of justice are beginning to turn in favour of those impacted by this terrible scandal.

“However, this commitment is far from the end of the story. These are interim payments but they by no means represent anything like meaningful compensation for those who continue to suffer day-by-day from the dreadful failures on the part of the Department of Health back in the 70s and 80s.

“Nor do today’s promised payments give any recognition whatsoever or otherwise benefit those affected more widely – those who lost children, parents, and loved ones; those who cared for victims sadly no longer with us and those whose families were devastated by tragedy at the hands of the Department of Health. These people too have fought for decades for recompense and can take little comfort in the announcement today. Yet again, without reason, it seems they must wait.

“The fight has to go on for full and proper compensation for all those who have suffered and have yet again been ignored in today’s announcement.

“In recent weeks the Infected Blood Inquiry has heard from the likes of Sir John Major, Andy Burnham and Jeremy Hunt that people in positions of responsibility in the Department of Health knew that infected blood victims were wronged and that compensation was obviously due yet, for approaching 40 years, a powerful Government machine deliberately looked the other way and failed to do the right thing. It is the same Government machine that we see in action today.

“We urge the new Cabinet that will be assembled in September to prioritise the remainder of Sir Robert Francis QC’s recommendations as a matter of urgency. He has proposed a detailed and comprehensive compensation framework enabling full compensation to all who are entitled including the bereaved parents and children and the Estates of the deceased. Given the lack of mention of them in today’s announcement, yet again it is as if these victims do not exist.

“The Infected Blood Inquiry continues its good work under Sir Brian Langstaff. However, it would be frustrating if the victims have to wait for the Inquiry’s final report before a meaningful compensation mechanism is put in place. They have already waited decades and any argument that we need more evidence of the fact the Government must be held to account is now untenable.”

ENDS

Collins Solicitors Media Enquiries:

To interview Des Collins or any of the firm’s clients willing to speak on this issue, please contact:

Bell Yard Communications: BellYard@bell-yard.com
Louise Beeson: louise@bell-yard.com / Mob: 07768 956997
Declan Flahive: declan@bell-yard.com / Mob: 07944 629485

Notes for editors

The Infected Blood Inquiry, chaired by Sir Brian Langstaff, is the UK’s largest ever statutory inquiry, established to investigate how men women and children were given infected blood and blood products by the NHS from the 1970s. Hearings can be attended in person or followed live on the Infected Blood Inquiry website/YouTube channel.