Widow angered at leaked papers on blood scandal costs

Mar 24 2010 by Helen Rae, The Journal

“Of course the maintenance of the life of a haemophiliac is itself expensive, and I am very much afraid that those who are already doomed will generate savings which more than cover the cost of testing blood donations.”

Ms Grayson said: “I am angry at what the health officials have said.

“Since the 1970s haemophiliacs have been treated as second-class citizens. When you look at all Government documents released by the Freedom of Information it is evident ministers wanted to save money and that was, and has always been, their main priority. These leaked papers should have been released a long time ago.

“Government granted us a public inquiry on the grounds all information was in the public domain. This shows once again Government gave misinformation and, in fact, not all information was in the public domain.”

The papers were leaked as lawyers prepare for a judicial review later this week of the Government’s response to an independent inquiry led by Lord Archer of Sandwell into the blood scandal.

In his report, published in February last year, Archer urged Government to renegotiate a fair, direct and comprehensive package with survivors and their families.

A total of 4,670 haemophiliacs were given blood contaminated with the hepatitis C virus and 1,200 were later infected with HIV in the 1970s and 80s. The blood products came from commercial organisations in America, whose paid donors included drug users and prison inmates.

More than 2,000 haemophiliacs who received the tainted blood are now dead.

Last May the then health minister, Dawn Primarolo, rejected campaigners’ demands.

Ministers agreed that funding for trusts set up for those infected with HIV would be increased to allow annual payments of £12,800 to each person but they offered no extra cash for those with hepatitis C.