Victims of the contaminated blood scandal like the North East's Carol Grayson and Sean Cavens - and many more - should be paid interim compensation of no less than £100,000 "without delay".
That's the recommendation from Sir Brian Langstaff, chair of the ongoing Infected Blood Inquiry. It comes in response to a report setting out a compensation framework from Sir Robert Francis. Sir Robert had been commissioned to produce the report by the Cabinet Office and he then gave evidence at the public inquiry in early July.
The infected blood scandal saw thousands given tainted blood products containing lethal viruses like HIV and hepatitis C. Many of these were haemophiliacs who were given the products to treat their condition, while others were infected via blood transfusions.
The Infected Blood Inquiry has heard extensively how patients were not told of the risks of their treatment, while this week former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said there was a "failure of the state" on the issue. Giving evidence at the inquiry, Mr Hunt said: "The state sometimes closes ranks around a lie. "
Now Sir Brian, the former high court judge leading the inquiry, has said it is time for interim compensation to be paid. This is something campaigners have been dying due to the fact that hundreds of members of the infected blood community have died since the inquiry began - and many more are in ill-health due to the nature of what happened to them.
At the end of Friday's hearings at the inquiry, Sir Brian said: "Having considered the submissions, as well as the evidence and report by Sir Robert Francis QC, I have today - in line with the requirements of the Inquiries Act - sent my Report on Interim Payments to the Minister. I have disclosed it to core participants.
"In advance of my sending the report to him, he gave me permission to publish it. I should say that it is a requirement under the Act that I have the minister's permission to publish and he gave it to me.
"I have decided that my Report, exactly as delivered to the Minister, will be published on the Inquiry’s website once these proceedings have concluded today."
In his report, he said: "I have decided to recommend that interim payments of no less than £100,000 are made to all infected people, and to all the bereaved partners, currently registered with the schemes and those who register between now and the inception of any future scheme."
He said that he accepted this may be disappointing for other groups affected, such as bereaved children, but added it was important to remember that "this is not the end of the Inquiry's work".
Jesmond campaigner Carol Grayson lost her husband Peter and brother-in-law Stephen to the scandal. Both were haemophiliacs who were infected with HIV. Carol told ChronicleLive : "It's a great relief to be vindicated. I have been talking to Colette Wintle [a fellow campaigner and infected haemophiliac] and we are both delighted to hear the recommendation and we think it is excellent and carefully considered.
"Sir Brian obviously recognises that for the infected and affected we are for the most part older generation and I would imagine his decision has taken into account that we don't have necessarily that much time left. It's a relief and we thank him for it."
Carol said she felt the evidence of politicians like Mr Hunt in recent weeks had been a "great vindication" of what she and fellow campaigners had been saying for decades. She added now it was only to be seen whether the Government would indeed act with urgency to implement the recommendations.
Northumberland's Sean Cavens, one of the youngest haemophiliacs to be infected with hepatitis. said he was happy that Sir Brian had "met the challenge" set and made a recommendation. He said: "He’s done that and asked for it to be done without delay, therefore credibility of public inquiries is now being tested in a very direct manner as a result the credibility of democracy by default.
"No delays needed. Todays recommendation will highlight whether or not the UK Government can be held accountable by public inquiry. Over to you Mr Ellis, no delays." Michael Ellis, paymaster general and Cabinet Office minister is the Government figure currently responsible for the inquiry.
A government spokesperson said: "The Government is grateful to Sir Brian Langstaff for his interim report regarding interim compensation for victims of infected blood. We recognise how important this will be for people infected and affected across the UK, and can confirm that the Government will consider Sir Brian’s report and the recommendations of Sir Robert Francis QC with the utmost urgency, and will respond as soon as possible.
"A copy of the report will be laid in the House once Parliament reconvenes."
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