Government to give £100,000 in compensation to victims of blood infection scandal

Victims and bereaved families of the infamous blood infection scandal will each receive £100,000 in compensation, according to the UK government. The amount will be given to some 4,000 people who suffer from failing health as well as partners of those who died as a result of developing virus such as HIV and hepatitis, the BBC reports.

‘The worst treatment disaster’

The scandal which has become known as the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS saw patients being infected with HIV and hepatitis C through contaminated blood products that were imported from America.

At least 2,400 people are believed to have died after contracting these infections in the 1970s and 80s. An unknown number of patients in the UK, were exposed to these viruses through childbirth or post-surgery related blood transfusions.

Reactions

Announcing the decision to compensate victims and their spouses, the government said it will be paid in England, Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland by the end of October.

Speaking to Sky News, Andrew Evans, 45, who was infected through haemophilia treatments at the age of five with HIV and hepatitis C and developed AIDS at the age of 16 said:

If you split £100,000 over 40 years of being infected, it's £2,500 a year. For me personally, I'll be able to do what I want to do most, which is to secure my family's future. But I'm also very aware of the people this doesn't deal with at the moment.

However, apart from survivors like Andrew, only spouses of deceased victims will be given compensation. Children and other relatives are not entitled to any money. Lauren Palmer, 38, who lost both parents to the scandal said the criteria for disbursement is unfair.

How can they have this differentiation - this hierarchy between bereaved families? I mean all their lives matter just as much as the next person.

Prior to this announcement, victims and families had been receiving support payments, but this is the first time the government is agreeing to a lump sum pay-out.

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