14th October 2010 – Commenting on today’s government commitment to review aspects of compensation and support to those infected with hepatitis C via NHS-supplied contaminated blood and blood products, Charles Gore, Chief Executive of The Hepatitis C Trust, said:
“This review is good news for thousands of people who contracted hepatitis C from contaminated blood and blood products. We are looking forward to working closely with the Department of Health to make sure the patients affected receive the support they need and deserve and will continue to champion the cause of all those who contracted hepatitis C from contaminated blood and blood products in this tragedy.
“I am pleased that the glaring disparity between the significantly lower payments made to people who contracted hepatitis C and those made to people who contracted HIV, is being reviewed, and that the much-overlooked issue of financial support for dependents is finally being given consideration. Widows and dependants of those who contracted hepatitis C from contaminated blood and blood products, and died prior to 29th August 2003 do not qualify to receive compensation. Conversely, the estates of those who died after 29th August 2003 are entitled to the payment. This arbitrary cut off date should be removed.
“I also welcome that the provision of life insurance for those infected and the mechanisms by which payments are accessed are included in this review.”
Lesley Jenkins, who contracted hepatitis C through a blood transfusion at the birth of her son in the 1980s, said:
“I feel that as someone caught up in ‘The worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS’, adequate compensation for victims and their families has been too long coming. I feel that at this time it is vital for the Government NOT to ignore those, like myself, who are not haemophilic or infected by HIV but who have nevertheless had their lives damaged by hepatitis C infection from tainted blood transfusions and suffered similar losses, both financial and emotional, as those in the HIV or haemophilia community.
“The Government has a golden opportunity here to end this unfairness once and for all and to pay adequate compensation to everyone caught up in this disaster. No distinctions should be made now about who was infected with hepatitis C versus HIV, or whether the infected blood was given as a result of haemophilia, child birth or an accident. The result remains the same – chronic infection with a life threatening disease and however one got it, we all deserve to be compensated and looked after now by a compassionate and fair Government”
Notes to editors
1. For more information please contact Becky Hug: becky.hug@hepctrust.org.uk or call 0207 089 6220.
2. The Hepatitis C Trust is the only UK national charity for hepatitis C. The Trust was started, and is mostly staffed, by patients. The Trust campaigns to raise awareness of the disease, tackle stigma associated with HCV, and lobby the Government for more resources to educate and inform, and to prevent and treat HCV
Website: www.hepatitisctrust.org.uk
Helpline: 0845 223 4424
3. Today, Public Health Minister Anne Milton MP announced a review of some of the issues raised by the recommendations of the independent Archer Review, to include: the level of ex-gratia payments made to those affected by hepatitis C, including financial support for their spouses and dependants, and taking account of the level of payments made to those infected with HIV in the UK and via schemes in other countries; the mechanisms by which all ex-gratia payments are made; access to insurance; prescription charges; access to nursing and other care services in the community. The full text of the Written Ministerial Statement has been attached along with this press release.
