Infected blood compensation 'to be extended' to bereaved children of victims

The infected blood compensation scheme is to be extended to bereaved children who have lost one or two parents, Sky News understands.

This group has not been involved in the interim compensation scheme previously paid to victims of the scandal.

Tony Farrugia, who lost his haemophiliac father (and two uncles) to HIV/AIDs after being treated with infected blood products, described his meeting with the Paymaster General John Glen on Wednesday as “emotional”.

Mr Farrugia said this significant moment “wasn’t just about the money but that his loss has finally been recognised”.

He will now be able to apply to the compensation scheme after Sir Brian Langstaff’s report is published on 20 May.

Thousands of people died in the 1970s and 80s after infected blood products were imported from the United States to treat patients with blood clotting disorders. But these were used without being screened even though they had been farmed from prisoners, drug addicts and sex workers.

The Blood Inquiry which was announced in 2017 has seen evidence that shows these infected blood products were secretly tested on patients including young children even though the risks were widely known at the time.

Infected blood scandal: Campaigners concerned government may seek to delay paying compensation

Rishi Sunak says government ‘speeding up’ compensation for infected blood victims

Infected blood inquiry chair ‘sorry’ as final report on scandal delayed again

A further 710 people have died since then and campaigners fear any more delays in awarding compensation will see more people dying before they get any money.

John Glen, the cabinet minister responsible for the Government’s response to the Infected Blood Inquiry, today began a series of meetings with campaigners representing infected and affected members of the community.

Other victims of the infected blood scandal have told Sky News they are also set to receive interim compensation payments ahead of full compensation in the Autumn.

Stuart McClean described his talks with Paymaster John Glen at a meeting in Whitehall this morning as “promising” and added “I think he’s listened and I think he gets what we were saying to him.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

“He’s looking at trying to go for another interim payment. He’s got to get that signed off. We don’t know when. We don’t know what it’ll be. He said that he was looking at another interim payment.”

Mr McClean is uncertain if the payments would be for all victims affected by the scandal or the timeline: “He didn’t stipulate. But hopefully it is for both. And then hopefully compensation starts arriving October onwards. He said that he’s working as fast as he can. Obviously he’s got to take it to the Chancellor and to the Prime Minister, but he is working as fast as he can.”

In October 2022, the Government made interim compensation payments to infected individuals and bereaved partners who were registered with any of the four UK infected blood support schemes.

Mr McClean was infected with the potentially deadly Hepatitis C virus as an eight year old schoolboy after he was misdiagnosed as a haemophiliac. He was only told about his life threatening infection as an adult.

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

He said he asked the Paymaster General not to make any Government announcements on 20th May, the day Sir Brian Langstaff’s long awaited report into the greatest NHS treatment scandal in history will be published.

“Please give us a day on the 20th not to make any announcement. A sad day for the truth to come out and let the public hear the truth. But I think we’re nearly there for justice, Mr McClean said.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive Breaking News alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News App. You can also follow @SkyNews on X or subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.

Read Entire Article