Extra support on the way for victims of tainted blood

[Guest guest]

http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2165799?UserKey=

Extra support on the way for victims of tainted blood

Campaigners welcome cash but payments ‘far too low’

By Tim ing

Published: 05/03/2011

More people who were infected with potentially fatal hepatitis C while being

treated with contaminated NHS blood or blood products will be eligible for

additional support.

While the extra money for sufferers and bereaved relatives was welcomed by

campaigners, they said the payments did not equate with the hardship and

suffering caused by the scandal.

In the 1970s and 1980s, hundreds of Scots were infected with the liver disease

and HIV after receiving transfusions and other treatments of contaminated blood

and blood products.

This led to the establishment of the Skipton Fund to help sufferers. A

first-stage payment of £20,000 is available to eligible recipients, with a

second-stage payment of £25,000 for those who develop advanced liver disease.

The new provisions include an annual payment of £12,800 for all those who

qualify for stage-two payments, as well as an increase in the one-off lump

payment to £50,000, whether the patient is alive or dead.

Families of those who died before April 29, 2003, will be allowed to make

claims.

Patients and families will have access to a discretionary fund and the annual

payment for those with hepatitis C or HIV will be increased in line with the

consumer price index.

Patients who develop hepatitis C-related B cell lymphoma will be eligible to

claim for stage-two payments.

The ish Government said it was impossible to say how many people would be

entitled, but it is thought to be a few hundred.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said she had accepted the recommendations of

the review announced by the Department of Health in England in January to

provide additional support for those in financial hardship.

She said: “I have today accepted those relevant recommendations, which will be

implemented in full. This will also allow for posthumous claims for support to

be made on behalf of those who died prior to August 2003.

“No amount of support can restore these people’s health but I believe the

measures announced today represent a considerable improvement for those who are

most seriously ill or who are suffering financial hardship.”

, chief executive of the Haemophilia Society, said it was heartening

to see Ms Sturgeon had acted “so swiftly” to ensure that victims in Scotland

were no worse off than those in England.

Read more:

http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2165799?UserKey=#ixzz1FpaKcoUX

[Guest guest]

http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2165799?UserKey=

Extra support on the way for victims of tainted blood

Campaigners welcome cash but payments ‘far too low’

By Tim ing

Published: 05/03/2011

More people who were infected with potentially fatal hepatitis C while being

treated with contaminated NHS blood or blood products will be eligible for

additional support.

While the extra money for sufferers and bereaved relatives was welcomed by

campaigners, they said the payments did not equate with the hardship and

suffering caused by the scandal.

In the 1970s and 1980s, hundreds of Scots were infected with the liver disease

and HIV after receiving transfusions and other treatments of contaminated blood

and blood products.

This led to the establishment of the Skipton Fund to help sufferers. A

first-stage payment of £20,000 is available to eligible recipients, with a

second-stage payment of £25,000 for those who develop advanced liver disease.

The new provisions include an annual payment of £12,800 for all those who

qualify for stage-two payments, as well as an increase in the one-off lump

payment to £50,000, whether the patient is alive or dead.

Families of those who died before April 29, 2003, will be allowed to make

claims.

Patients and families will have access to a discretionary fund and the annual

payment for those with hepatitis C or HIV will be increased in line with the

consumer price index.

Patients who develop hepatitis C-related B cell lymphoma will be eligible to

claim for stage-two payments.

The ish Government said it was impossible to say how many people would be

entitled, but it is thought to be a few hundred.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said she had accepted the recommendations of

the review announced by the Department of Health in England in January to

provide additional support for those in financial hardship.

She said: “I have today accepted those relevant recommendations, which will be

implemented in full. This will also allow for posthumous claims for support to

be made on behalf of those who died prior to August 2003.

“No amount of support can restore these people’s health but I believe the

measures announced today represent a considerable improvement for those who are

most seriously ill or who are suffering financial hardship.”

, chief executive of the Haemophilia Society, said it was heartening

to see Ms Sturgeon had acted “so swiftly” to ensure that victims in Scotland

were no worse off than those in England.

Read more:

http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2165799?UserKey=#ixzz1FpaKcoUX