Victim of an infected blood scandal from NI describes waiting times for compensation as “torture” | UTV

A victim of the infected blood scandal from Northern Ireland has described the waiting for compensation as “torture”.

Nigel Hamilton from Co Antrim gave evidence when the infected blood test was reopened on Wednesday to examine concerns about compensation.

The special hearing about the treatment disaster heard that some people die before they receive payments.

Mr. Hamilton said: “We need justice, we are entitled to justice and we will have justice.”

Some victims of the infected blood scandal will die before they receive compensation, and the current number of people who have received a payment is “unsatisfactory”, the government has admitted.

People who are affected by the scandal called the “greatest catastrophe in the history of the NHS”, said that they “had no time on our side” because they asked the officials to speed up the remuneration payments.

Sir Brian Langstaff, chairman of the infected blood test, holds for two days with special hearings in order to investigate the “topicality and appropriateness of the government's reaction”.

Sir Brian opened the hearing and said: “It is no secret that the request for letter, e -mail after e -mail, calling for the call, expresses the concerns and concerns about compensation.

“The investigation will do everything in its power to identify measures that the government can take, and by the infected Blood damage authority to improve compensation and to ensure that justice takes place.”

The Minister for Cabinet Office Nick Thomas – Symonds began his evidence by apologizing to the victims.

“I know that many people have suffered unimaginably from me from this scandal. I would like to recognize that the government has failed it on behalf of the state for decades. I'm sorry,” he said.

By pointing out that it could take years for some people to receive compensation, the Jenni Richards KC Mr. Thomas Symonds investigated, whether both infected and affected people will die before they receive compensation.

“Yes,” he replied.

The minister, who presented the evidence, told the hearing that he was “uneasy for further progress in payments”.

Ms. Richards read the latest IBCA compensation numbers, which show that a little more than 100 people have received a payment: “This is a deeply unsatisfactory condition, isn't it?”

Mr. Thomas – Symonds replied: “It is absolutely and I will never think that this is satisfactory until everyone has received the compensatory compensation that he is due.”

He said that he is urging the IBCA about how the process can “accelerate”, including the question of whether more risks can take to ensure quick payments.

Activists represented by the scandal and affected people gave emotional evidence on Wednesday morning.

Andrew Evans from the campaign group spoiled blood told a quote of one of the members of the group who said: “I'm absolutely exhausted. Fear is indescribable. I just want that over.”

Mr. Evans, who was infected by contaminated blood products during the treatment of hemophilia as a child with HIV and hepatitis C, said that the victims felt “betrayed and disappointed” and were added: “People have given up to receive something.

“You have lost all hope of ever getting justice.”

Gary Webster, who was infected with HIV and hepatitis C, when he attended the Treloar School of Lord Mayor in Hampshire (Treloars) in the 1970s and 80s, said his experience with the compensation scheme was a “nightmare”.

The 60-year-old said: “People will not get their compensation and many claims will die with them.

“It's just too slow and people will not get justice they deserve.” The activist Carolyn Challis was infected with hepatitis C when she received blood transfusions between 1992 and 1993 during chemotherapy treatment. The three -member mother from North Devon said that the compensation scheme “is not suitable for the purpose”.

“We have no time on our side or the energy to continue to fight for justice,” she said.

Bill Wright from Haemophilia Scotland told the investigation that the scandal was the “greatest disaster in the history of the NHS”.

In the meantime, Alan Burgess, who was identified with HIV and hepatitis C, said when he was treated in the treatment of hemophilia that the ICBA “played games with our mental health”.

He added: “They play games with our mental health and our physical health – they have to be made to recognize what they are doing.

“It is like trying to nail pudding on the wall, they can talk to them, but they don't seem to listen.”

He also said that the victims of the hearing died during the procedure while one of his friends only died weeks ago.

The 76 -year -old Mary Grindley, who has been fighting for 45 years, asked the remuneration authority to set a schedule for “payments to goods” and added: “It is as if the people who died were completely forgotten.”

The grandmother gave up teaching in 1991 to take care of her husband John, who had merged with HIV and hepatitis C, while she was treated for hemophilia and died of AIDS in 1994 at the age of 41.

More than 30,000 people in Great Britain were infected with HIV and hepatitis C after they had given contaminated blood and blood products between the 1970s and early 1990. Some people died in the episode and survivors live with lifelong health effects.

In her budget in October, Chancellor Rachel Reeves passed £ 11.8 billion to compensate for the victims managed by the IBCA. The IBCA said that until May 6, 677 people were asked to start their claim and to start 106 payments with a total of more than £ 96 million.

IBCA officials will provide evidence on Thursday.

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