Minister announces extra cash for tainted blood victims

People infected with Hepatitis C after receiving tainted blood products from the NHS are to receive extra money.

Almost 4,300 people - mainly haemophiliacs - were infected after being treated in the 1970s and 80s.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley described the episode as one of the great tragedies in modern health care.

The changes affect only those in England, who will qualify for a range of extra payments.

Campaigners have battled for years to get a better deal for those caught up in a scandal that also saw thousands of people infected with HIV.

Some victims even found themselves infected with both diseases.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Lansley announced extra financial support, including an annual payment of almost £13,000 for those with the most serious Hepatitis C-related diseases, like cirrhosis or liver cancer.

There will also be a doubling in a one-off payment to £50,000 when people become very ill.

Other measures include money for counselling services and the chance for the families of those who have died to make a posthumous claim for compensation.

In a Commons statement, Mr Lansley said: "Taken together, these announcements represent a significant rise in the support available to those affected by this tragedy.

"Putting an exact figure on the package is difficult, as there is some uncertainty about how many will be eligible, and how their illnesses may progress.

"However, we believe these new arrangements could provide from £100m to £130m worth of additional support over the course of this Parliament."

Separate measures were put in place to compensate those infected with HIV in the tainted blood scandal, with Hepatitis C sufferers significantly worse off.

These new measures even out those discrepancies.

The changes apply only to those infected in England, but Mr Lansley said he would speak to the devolved administrations about extending the support across the UK.

Labour's spokeswoman, Diane Abbott, welcomed the announcements but said campaigners would regret that the levels of payments were lower than those in the Republic of Ireland.