Jeremy Hunt, former Health Secretary, has stated that no decisions have been made regarding the level of compensation for victims of the infected blood scandal. Hunt made the comment while appearing before the official Infected Blood Inquiry. He acknowledged the dire economic circumstances when considering large sums of money for compensation. The government has, however, accepted the need for a compensation scheme and has been working swiftly to determine its delivery.
Although campaigners expressed disappointment with his lack of specifics and a timeline, Hunt assured that extensive discussions were ongoing about the compensation details. Last year, an interim compensation scheme was introduced for victims and their bereaved partners. However, campaigners are pushing for the scheme to include a wider range of affected individuals, such as bereaved parents and orphaned children.
Questions were also raised about how the compensation scheme would be funded. Hunt stated that no decisions had been made yet but acknowledged the challenging economic situation and the need to consider affordability for the taxpayer.
The infected blood scandal occurred in the 1970s and 1980s when thousands of individuals were given contaminated blood products. Many victims suffered from HIV and hepatitis C, resulting in numerous deaths since the inquiry began. While an interim payment scheme is already in place, the full compensation scheme is yet to be finalized.
Hunt’s appearance at the inquiry marked the second time he gave evidence. The Infected Blood Inquiry was set up in 2017 to investigate the treatment disaster in the history of the NHS.
Campaign group Factor 8 expressed disappointment at Hunt’s lack of specific details, calling it a missed opportunity to expedite justice for victims of the infected blood scandal. In April, Sir Brian Langstaff, the chair of the inquiry, recommended that bereaved parents and children should receive interim compensation payments.
The government has committed to waiting for the conclusion of the inquiry before making any decisions on the compensation scheme. Hunt defended this position, stating the need to understand the full context of the scandal and be responsible to the taxpayers funding the scheme.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faced criticism earlier this week when emphasizing that the government was working quickly to provide the compensation payments.
