Scots infected with HIV and hepatitis in NHS blood scandal to get £100,000 compensation within days
22.10.2022 - 11:27
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
Thousands of Scots who fell victim to the infected blood scandal will receive £100,000 by the end of the month, it has been announced.
Patients who were infected with Hepatitis C or HIV in the 1970s and 80s - or if they have died, then their partners - will get the interim compensation payment next week, the UK Government has announced. Maree Todd, Scotland's public health minister, welcomed the Cabinet Office announcement which came after a report published in July by infected blood inquiry chairman Sir Brian Langstaff said the payments should be made "without delay".
The Holyrood minister said: "We recognise how important the issue of interim payments has been for Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme (SIBSS) members, and those in the other UK support schemes, who have suffered for so long. The interim compensation payments will build on the support already provided by SIBSS to many of those affected by this tragedy."
The payments will not be subject to any tax or national insurance deductions, neither will they affect any financial benefits support being received. It is estimated about 3,000 people in Scotland were infected with Hepatitis C through NHS blood or blood products in the 1970s through to 1991. Some were also infected with HIV in the early 1980s.
Infections were not just confined to Scotland, with people across the UK and around the world falling victim. The total bill to the taxpayer for the initial payments to victims is expected to reach around £400 million for the whole UK, and the government is set to respond to any further recommendations made by the inquiry when it concludes next year.
Ms Todd added: "The Scottish Government is grateful to Sir Brian for the interim report and welcomes the UK
The website popstar.one is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can
send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.