Lancashire infected blood scandal victim calls for justice
The inquiry has been looking into how infected blood was given to patients
A Lancashire victim of the infected blood scandal says he hopes that he will finally get answers.
This comes as the final report of the inquiry will be published today.
Former soldier Brendan West, from Colne, lost his leg in 1979 and was given a blood transfusion while at a British military hospital in Germany.
Four decades later, he discovered that the blood he was given was infected with Hepatitis C.
Mr West, now 63, only discovered that he was infected with the virus when he was turned away from giving blood.
He says the finding of today's report is something victims have been fighting decades for: "People have spent thirty years of their life seeking truth.
"What I would like to see is open and honest truth, and I believe Sir Brian Langstaff and his fantastic team are going to provide that."
Brian, goes on to describe what he hopes the report will find: "I have no idea what they are going to report but I think its going to be pretty explosive whatever it is.
"The denial, the gas-lighting of campaigners by governments saying 'there is nothing to see here'- would really like to see that proven.
"And I'll quote Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Manchester, who said 'this is a criminal cover-up on an industrial scale'
"If he as an ex-health minister believes that then I think we all should."
A Government spokesperson said: "This was an appalling tragedy that never should have happened.
"We are clear that justice needs to be done and swiftly, which is why have acted in amending the Victims and Prisoners Bill.
“This includes establishing a new body to deliver an Infected Blood Compensation Scheme, confirming the Government will make the required regulations for it within 3 months of Royal Assent, and that it will have all the funding needed to deliver compensation once they have identified the victims and assessed claims.
“In addition, we have included a statutory duty to provide additional interim payments to the estates of deceased infected people.
“We will continue to listen carefully to the community as we address this dreadful scandal."