Infected blood scandal: NI victims welcome £100,000 payment
However, the UK government has been urged not to forget bereaved parents and children
Survivors and partners of victims have welcomed the UK Government's decision to give victims of the infected blood scandal compensation payments of £100,000.
Health Minister Robin Swann has also welcomed the move and said he will work with his counterparts in Westminster to ensure the payments to victims in Northern Ireland are made "at pace".
The Government announced today(Wednesday) that survivors of the blood contamination scandal across the UK will be given compensation payments of £100,000.
Bereaved spouses and partners registered on the scheme will also receive the payments.
In Northern Ireland, the payments will be paid to people on the NI Infected Blood Payment Scheme.
Thousands of people were diagnosed with HIV and hepatitis C across the UK after receiving NHS-supplied contaminated blood products in the 1970s and 1980s. Around 2,400 people died.
56-year-old Paul Kirkpatrick, who is originally from Belfast, but now lives in County Londonderry is a haemophiliac who was infected with hepatitis.
He said today’s announcement shows the government is taking responsibility for what is described as one of the worst treatment disasters in the history of the NHS.
He said: “It has been a difficult period over the last four years.
"We’ve heard numerous new fresh things which we didn’t expect to hear from clinicians, from politicians and from government officials.
"So, today is at least, if nothing else, it’s recognition that the government has at last accepted responsibility, which it has avoided for many years.
“What is disappointing about today’s announcement is that it only affects a small part of the community.
“That is: the bereaved partners and those still infected and still living, such as myself.
“There is a significant part of the community who lost their parents, or parents who lost their children who are not covered by today’s announcement.
“It would be great and important for the government to follow up with that part of the community as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile, UUP MLA labelled the scandal as a "tragedy for everyone involved".
Mr Swann said: "The use of contaminated blood and blood products in the 1970s and 1980s was a tragedy for everyone involved and I am very aware of the financial hardships and suffering endured since then.
"In my time as Health Minister, I have met with a number of people who have been either directly infected or affected by contaminated blood and have heard first-hand the devastating impact it has on their lives.
"Today's confirmation on interim payments is to be welcomed and my Department has been working with counterparts in Westminster to ensure that the payments will be made at pace."
Most of those involved had the blood-clotting disorder haemophilia and relied on regular injections of the US product Factor VIII to survive.
They were unaware they were receiving contaminated Factor VIII from people who were paid to donate, including prisoners and drug addicts.
Patients were given the product for years despite repeated warnings at the top of government.
New cases of HIV and hepatitis continued to be diagnosed decades after the first contaminations, resulting in many early deaths.
Wednesday's announcement follows recommendations by Sir Robert Francis QC, who led a review of compensation for those affected by the scandal and said there would be a "strong moral case" for offering money to victims, independent of any issue of legal liability or culpability, if certain criteria were met.
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