29/08/2003

Patients contracting Hepatitis C in NHS to be compensated: Reid

Health Secretary John Reid has decided to establish a financial assistance scheme for people infected with Hepatitis C as a result of being given blood products by the NHS.

The details of the payments have yet to be worked out but it expected to follow along similar lines to proposals tabled in the Scottish Executive. The executive plans to offer between £20,00 and £45,000 to patients who have contracted the disease through blood transfusions.

Mr Reid said: "After becoming Secretary of State, I looked at the history of this issue and decided on compassionate grounds that this is the right thing to do in this situation.

"I have therefore decided in principle that English Hepatitis C sufferers should receive ex-gratia payments from the Department of Health."

(gmcg)

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