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| Infected blood scandal: Government proposes more money for victims | Infected blood scandal: Government proposes more money for victims |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The government wants to increase the amount of money on offer for those affected by the blood contamination scandal by a further £100m, public health minister Jane Ellison has said. | The government wants to increase the amount of money on offer for those affected by the blood contamination scandal by a further £100m, public health minister Jane Ellison has said. |
| Thousands of people were infected with Hepatitis C and HIV through NHS blood products in the 1970s and 80s. | Thousands of people were infected with Hepatitis C and HIV through NHS blood products in the 1970s and 80s. |
| Ms Ellison said the money would come from the Department of Health's budget, and she apologised again to victims. | Ms Ellison said the money would come from the Department of Health's budget, and she apologised again to victims. |
| In March last year the Penrose report was published after a six-year inquiry. | In March last year the Penrose report was published after a six-year inquiry. |
| Lord Penrose, a retired judge, concluded that more should have been done to screen blood and donors for hepatitis C in the early 1990s. | Lord Penrose, a retired judge, concluded that more should have been done to screen blood and donors for hepatitis C in the early 1990s. |
| Consultation opens | Consultation opens |
| Many of those affected were in Scotland, which was the only part of the UK to hold an inquiry. | |
| Ms Ellison said the government was now opening a 12-week consultation on the new payment proposals. | Ms Ellison said the government was now opening a 12-week consultation on the new payment proposals. |
| She said the £100m is in addition to the £25m which was announced in March - taking the total to £225m over the five years to 2020. | She said the £100m is in addition to the £25m which was announced in March - taking the total to £225m over the five years to 2020. |
| "This is significantly more than any previous government has been able to provide for those affected by this tragedy," she told MPs in the Commons. | "This is significantly more than any previous government has been able to provide for those affected by this tragedy," she told MPs in the Commons. |
| But she also admitted that "no amount of money could make up for the impact" blood infections had on victims and families. | But she also admitted that "no amount of money could make up for the impact" blood infections had on victims and families. |
| The contaminated blood scandal has been described as the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS, and was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of people - many of whom were haemophilia patients. | The contaminated blood scandal has been described as the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS, and was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of people - many of whom were haemophilia patients. |
| In Scotland the Penrose report said that 478 people acquired the Hepatitis C virus from blood product therapy, and 2,500 acquired the virus from blood transfusion in Scotland between 1970 and 1991. | |
| Sixty patients acquired HIV from therapy with blood products, and 18 from blood transfusion in Scotland. | |
| 'Advances in medicine' | 'Advances in medicine' |
| The scandal happened before the creation of the devolved Scottish Parliament, which now has full responsibility for the NHS in Scotland. | The scandal happened before the creation of the devolved Scottish Parliament, which now has full responsibility for the NHS in Scotland. |
| When the Penrose report was published last year there was an angry response from victims and relatives, some of whom labelled it a "whitewash", and burned copies of the report on the streets of Edinburgh. | When the Penrose report was published last year there was an angry response from victims and relatives, some of whom labelled it a "whitewash", and burned copies of the report on the streets of Edinburgh. |
| Ms Ellison also said that within the consultation there was a proposal for all those currently receiving regular support to have that funding increased to £15,000 a year, and those who are co-infected - as in contaminated with more than one virus - should get £30,000. | Ms Ellison also said that within the consultation there was a proposal for all those currently receiving regular support to have that funding increased to £15,000 a year, and those who are co-infected - as in contaminated with more than one virus - should get £30,000. |
| She also said the government wanted to "focus on those who are infected" and be able to "respond to new advances in medicine". | She also said the government wanted to "focus on those who are infected" and be able to "respond to new advances in medicine". |
| As well as the extra cash the government is also proposing to make a single body responsible for a new support scheme with the promise of more help for certain groups of people, such as those with Hepatitis C. | As well as the extra cash the government is also proposing to make a single body responsible for a new support scheme with the promise of more help for certain groups of people, such as those with Hepatitis C. |
| "There is a large population within the infected blood community who currently do not receive any regular financial support. These are the people with Hepatitis C. | "There is a large population within the infected blood community who currently do not receive any regular financial support. These are the people with Hepatitis C. |
| "I believe it is important that everybody receives support from the new scheme and that this is linked to the impact that infection has on their health," she said. | "I believe it is important that everybody receives support from the new scheme and that this is linked to the impact that infection has on their health," she said. |
| Shadow health minister Andrew Gwynne praised the government's intentions for a consultation, but noted the "injustice felt by many victims". | Shadow health minister Andrew Gwynne praised the government's intentions for a consultation, but noted the "injustice felt by many victims". |