Norfolk victim of infected blood scandal wants substantial compensation and apology
The scandal has been dubbed the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS
A victim of the infected blood scandal who lives in Norwich is telling us that those affected by it should receive substantial compensation and an apology from the Government.
It's estimated that over 30 thousand people were given contaminated blood between 1970 and 1990, with the inquiry's final report into this due to be published on May 20th.
"I want to wake up one day and be free of it"
Steve Bartram was infected with Hepatitis C through treatment for haemophilia in 1984, but was only told about it eleven years later: "The stigma was absolutely atrocious.
"We had to move from Essex to Norfolk and when the news got out that I had got Haemophilia as well, somebody wrote on the bus-stop next to my dad's store 'AIDS family".
"I've been left with Cirrhosis of the liver. My Grandad and my mum's cousins were diagnosed with Hep C and HIV and they've all since passed.
"I've been campaigning since I was diagnosed in 1995. I just want it over, it's taken over and destroyed my life. I want to wake up one day and be free of it."
What's the latest in the Infected Blood Inquiry?
More people affected by the contaminated blood scandal are now expected to receive interim compensation payments.
Some people have already received interim payments of ££100,000 but Sir Brian Langstaff, chairman of the inquiry, said at the time that a number have gone "unrecognised" - including parents who lost children and children orphaned when their parents died - as he called for the interim scheme to be extended.
Now Government officials have confirmed that interim payments will also be paid to the "estates of the deceased infected people who were registered with existing or former support schemes".
The first interim payments were only available to infected people and bereaved partners.
The latest development means that a number of people who have not previously received an interim payment will become eligible.
Specific groups have not been named in the update from Government, such as the children of those infected, but they may receive money from the interim payment to the estate of the person who has died.
Families who have already received interim payments will not be eligible.
Ministers have agreed to a three-month deadline to establish a full compensation scheme for victims of the infected blood scandal but warned it could be "unavoidably" delayed if Parliament was not sitting - which will occur during recess and when a general election is called.
Officials confirmed that the UK-wide compensation body, which will be arms-length of Government, will be called the Infected Blood Compensation Authority.
The process of recruiting a chair for the authority has begun.
Once established, people living with chronic infections will be "prioritised" by the compensation scheme.