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| Judge says parents and children should receive infected blood payments | Judge says parents and children should receive infected blood payments |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Victims and their relatives campaigned for decades for a public inquiry into the scandal (pictured in 2016) | Victims and their relatives campaigned for decades for a public inquiry into the scandal (pictured in 2016) |
| The parents and children of victims of the contaminated blood scandal should receive government compensation, a judge has said. | The parents and children of victims of the contaminated blood scandal should receive government compensation, a judge has said. |
| The chairman of the infected blood public inquiry, Sir Brian Langstaff, said it was time to "recognise deaths which have so far gone unrecognised". | The chairman of the infected blood public inquiry, Sir Brian Langstaff, said it was time to "recognise deaths which have so far gone unrecognised". |
| More than 3,000 people died after contracting HIV or hepatitis C via NHS treatments in the 1970s and 80s. | More than 3,000 people died after contracting HIV or hepatitis C via NHS treatments in the 1970s and 80s. |
| The government must now respond to the recommendations. | The government must now respond to the recommendations. |
| In August 2022, the government agreed to make the first interim compensation payments of £100,000 each to about 4,000 surviving victims, and bereaved widows. | In August 2022, the government agreed to make the first interim compensation payments of £100,000 each to about 4,000 surviving victims, and bereaved widows. |
| Sir Brian said a final compensation framework should be set up by the end of the year for those individuals and other groups. | Sir Brian said a final compensation framework should be set up by the end of the year for those individuals and other groups. |
| "It will clearly take political will to act quickly, but the circumstances here warrant it," he said. | "It will clearly take political will to act quickly, but the circumstances here warrant it," he said. |
| Giving evidence in 2021, then health secretary Matt Hancock said "of course" compensation would be paid to victims and their families if the public inquiry formally called for it. | Giving evidence in 2021, then health secretary Matt Hancock said "of course" compensation would be paid to victims and their families if the public inquiry formally called for it. |
| 'Time to put right' | 'Time to put right' |
| The long-running public inquiry into the infected blood scandal started taking evidence in 2019. | The long-running public inquiry into the infected blood scandal started taking evidence in 2019. |
| Previously, those infected with HIV and hepatitis C had survived on annual financial support payments, but had never been compensated for loss of earnings, care costs and other lifetime losses. | Previously, those infected with HIV and hepatitis C had survived on annual financial support payments, but had never been compensated for loss of earnings, care costs and other lifetime losses. |
| Victims' groups said the original decision to award interim compensation was a major step towards an official admission of responsibility for what has been called the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS. | Victims' groups said the original decision to award interim compensation was a major step towards an official admission of responsibility for what has been called the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS. |
| In a second set of recommendations, Sir Brian has now said payments should be extended to the parents and children of those who were infected. | In a second set of recommendations, Sir Brian has now said payments should be extended to the parents and children of those who were infected. |
| "It is a fact that around 380 children with bleeding disorders were infected with HIV. Some of them died in childhood. But their parents have never received compensation," he said. | "It is a fact that around 380 children with bleeding disorders were infected with HIV. Some of them died in childhood. But their parents have never received compensation," he said. |
| "Children who were orphaned as a result of infections transmitted by blood transfusions and blood products have never had their losses recognised. It's time to put that right." | "Children who were orphaned as a result of infections transmitted by blood transfusions and blood products have never had their losses recognised. It's time to put that right." |
| Jason Evans was four when his father, Jonathan, died in 1993 | |
| Jason Evans's father Jonathan died from an Aids-related illness in 1993 after receiving infected blood products. He now campaigns for those affected by the scandal. | |
| "I grew up without my father, so to learn that there might at last be some recognition of what was done to him was important," he told the BBC. | |
| "It's really significant that Sir Brian Langstaff said in his statement that wrong had been done and that this should never have happened." | |
| He urged the government to implement the judge's recommendations in full as soon as possible. | |
| Infected blood inquiry: Five things we have learned | Infected blood inquiry: Five things we have learned |
| Daughter's plea over infected blood compensation | Daughter's plea over infected blood compensation |
| Infected blood victims set for £400m compensation | Infected blood victims set for £400m compensation |
| What is the infected blood scandal? | What is the infected blood scandal? |
| Thousands of NHS patients with haemophilia and other blood disorders became seriously ill after being given a new treatment called factor VIII or IX from the mid-1970s onwards. | Thousands of NHS patients with haemophilia and other blood disorders became seriously ill after being given a new treatment called factor VIII or IX from the mid-1970s onwards. |
| At the time, the medication was imported from the US where it was made from the pooled blood plasma of thousands of paid donors, including some in high-risk groups, such as prisoners and drug users. | At the time, the medication was imported from the US where it was made from the pooled blood plasma of thousands of paid donors, including some in high-risk groups, such as prisoners and drug users. |
| Video statements were played at the start of the public inquiry in September 2018 | Video statements were played at the start of the public inquiry in September 2018 |
| Video statements were played at the start of the public inquiry in September 2018 | Video statements were played at the start of the public inquiry in September 2018 |
| If a single donor was infected with a blood-borne virus such as hepatitis or HIV, then the whole batch of medication could be contaminated. | If a single donor was infected with a blood-borne virus such as hepatitis or HIV, then the whole batch of medication could be contaminated. |
| It is thought about 1,250 people with bleeding disorders were infected with HIV, with half of that group later dying of HIV-related causes. | It is thought about 1,250 people with bleeding disorders were infected with HIV, with half of that group later dying of HIV-related causes. |
| The inquiry estimates that another 30,000 UK patients were also exposed to hepatitis B or C through the same treatment or a blood transfusion after childbirth or hospital surgery. | The inquiry estimates that another 30,000 UK patients were also exposed to hepatitis B or C through the same treatment or a blood transfusion after childbirth or hospital surgery. |
| More than 2,000 died of liver disease or cancer linked to the infection. | More than 2,000 died of liver disease or cancer linked to the infection. |
| 'Full compensation' | 'Full compensation' |
| Sir Brian said that a full compensation scheme should be set up immediately for victims of the scandal, including those who have already received interim payments. | Sir Brian said that a full compensation scheme should be set up immediately for victims of the scandal, including those who have already received interim payments. |
| That would mean individuals can claim compensation for care costs, financial harm and societal harm. | That would mean individuals can claim compensation for care costs, financial harm and societal harm. |
| It would cover increased payments for people who could not have children because of their infection, or who lost their jobs because of the stigma of HIV/Aids in the 1980s and 1990s. | It would cover increased payments for people who could not have children because of their infection, or who lost their jobs because of the stigma of HIV/Aids in the 1980s and 1990s. |
| The inquiry team is then expected to produce a final report into the scandal, with a list of recommendations, at some point in the autumn. | The inquiry team is then expected to produce a final report into the scandal, with a list of recommendations, at some point in the autumn. |
| A government spokesperson said the government was continuing preparations for responding to that final report. | A government spokesperson said the government was continuing preparations for responding to that final report. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| HIV & Aids | HIV & Aids |
| UK contaminated blood inquiry | UK contaminated blood inquiry |
| NHS | NHS |