VICTIMS of the infected blood scandal are set for compensation of least £10billion and an official apology from the PM. It comes as the final independent inquiry report is published today. Almost 3,000 people have died and as many as 30,000 are estimated to have been infected due to failings in the 1970s and 1980s.
Blood transfusions and products like plasma were not properly screened and transmitted incurable diseases to NHS patients – often children – who were being treated for bleeding disorders like haemophilia . Ministers have already paid out more than £400million in compensation to surviving victims and bereaved relatives. They are this week expected to pledge billions more in cash for families torn apart by the scandal .
Never again can such a damaged community be marginalised and ignored Today's inquiry report is set to reveal how top doctors and politicians failed to act on warnings about the safety of the treatments and allowed the danger to continue for years. The size of the compensation bill could be a political headache for Chancellor Jeremy Hunt but he wants to honour a 2014 promise to a dying constituent. PM Rishi Sunak is to address Parliament today to apologise.
Sir Keir Starmer said Labour would also commit to compensation. Kate Burt, chief of the Haemophilia Society, said: “The Infected Blood Inquiry ’s findings today will shock every single person in the UK who cares about truth and accountability from our public servants. “For decades, gover.