Britain’s been rocked by the terrifying “infected blood scandal” that not only claimed thousands of lives but also left heartbroken and furious families. After six years, a payout finally becomes a reality.
So Horrific It Sounds Unreal
Contaminated blood shook the UK in the 1970s and 1980s. The lack of blood supply within the country required the UK to import blood from other countries. This seemed like a good solution, but there was something very wrong.
No Tests at the Time
In those early years, blood was never tested for HIV and hepatitis B and C. Instead, it was brought in and given to the patients, as they were already waiting for blood due to delays and supply shortages.
Some Places Pay for a Blood Donation
The House of Lords Library UK parliament noted that the blood products imported to assist the critically short supply were sourced from America and other countries. Another important thing they noted was unlike in the UK, donors in the United States get paid to donate their blood.
Problems With Compensating for Blood
The compensation may have proven very lucrative to some people and had possibly helped when they needed money, but it caused irreversible after-effects.
Multiple People Suffering
To date, more than 30,000 people have been infected with contaminated blood in the UK with Hep C and HIV. Some people had the misfortune of being infected with both diseases.
Victims & Families Need to Be Compensated
Sir Brian Langstaff, the chairman of the infected blood inquiry, told Sky News that the NHS had failed the people. The people were done wrong; thus, the chairman said in an interview that “compensation is to be paid now…” he said in an interview, according to reports.
Improvement Suggestions
He also added that he has made recommendations to the NHS to help improve the future of these state hospitals. “People put their trust in the doctors and government to keep them safe, and that trust was betrayed,” Langstaff said.
Untrue Statements From the Government
He accused the government of using “untrue statements” when they told the people that “tests were done as soon as they became available.” Patients were also told that they had the “best possible treatment available.”
Gaslighting Victims?
The government was further called out by the Chairman, who raised more concerns. In addition to these statements at the time, Langstaff noted that the government made it even worse by telling patients that “nothing wrong had been done.”
What the Victims Say
There are thousands of victims affected by this heinous event, both adults and children, who have been impacted. Some victims were as young as babies and toddlers whose lives were cut short as a result. Richard Warwick shared that he was told he shouldn’t have children for fear of transmission.
The Smiths Speak Out
The parents of a young boy named Collin Smith, who had passed away aged seven, spoke out about how their son was treated. Colin was mistreated so much that other parents and people in the community didn’t want him to attend the same schools as their children.
The Parents Had No Idea
Colin Snr and Janet Smith were young Colin’s parents. They explained in an interview that, at first, they never knew their little boy was infected with HIV. They only thought he was treated in the hospital for his “bad chest.”
A Cruel Community & School Peers
Janet said they were called out to the corridor of the hospital after the professor had seen their son and were told that their son “is HIV.” The local community had called them “the AIDS family,” according to Janet. The couple had lost their son in 1990.
Thousands of Families Affected
According to BBC News, Colin was just one of 3,000 people who had died after receiving contaminated blood, while more than 25,000 were infected. It’s been many years, and his family, as well as the other victim’s families, are angry and sad that it’s taken such a long time after having “denied” the families for many years.
Using High-Risk Donors
According to reports, the inquiry into the infected blood scandal found that “high-risk donors” like prisoners and drug addicts were used. It’s reported that the UK accepted high-risk blood donors until 1986.
Compensation for the Victims
Sir Robert Frances published an “independent review,” and he had the following to say. He said that the victims must be paid nothing less than £100,000 as an “interim” payment while they work out a proper compensation scheme, according to the House of Lords.
Apology From UK Ex-Prime Minister
Reports from the House of Lords say the victim’s families have since been paid the £100,000 in 2022, but the next payment would be the settlement. The former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak offered an apology during his leadership time and mentioned working on a way to resolve it.
Keir Starmer Offers Apology and Aims for Swift Payout
The old government had yet to complete the findings and the final outcome of the investigations, which the Labour government later completed. Prime Minister Keir Starmer also apologised on behalf of the state and said he would work with the government to ensure that compensation be paid swiftly.”
Payout Estimate
According to some payout illustrations on the UK Government’s site, victims and families of victims could be paid £55,000 to £2.7 million depending on the severity of the infections and diseases.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / William Barton.
The images used are for illustrative purposes only and may not represent the actual people or places mentioned in the article.