Kevin Hollinrake has been making the case in Parliament for a fair settlement for his constituents who are victims of the contaminated blood scandal. During the debate Mr. Hollinrake urged the Health Minister, Nicola Blackwood, to ensure that no one is worse off under the new system of payments which come into effect soon. He also asked for greater clarity around payments made to the families of the victims after they have passed away.
He said, ‘I welcome the points made by the Haemophilia Society that the new payment scheme is an improvement on proposals in the original January consultation. I think it makes complete sense to have one single scheme going forward rather than multiple schemes and I’m pleased that more money has been identified to pay the victims’. He said that his constituents have lived with their illnesses for decades and now they want to ensure that their families are compensated for the losses they endured because of it.
In response the Minister said, ‘It is not fair that affected patients should suffer the continuing uncertainty that has been raised by colleagues. I have told the Department that it must announce the scheme immediately. I am pleased to announce that letters to all hepatitis C stage 1 sufferers were sent out on 11 November informing them of their new annual payment and asking them to claim this through the existing schemes. The schemes have said that they will be able to make these payments by 22 December. Letters to those at stage 2 and those with HIV have been sent this week, and their additional payments will be made shortly before Christmas’.