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23/01/2004
Hepatitus C sufferers infected on NHS to get £20,000
Hepatitis C sufferers who got the disease through infected NHS blood are to receive at least £20,000, Health Secretary John Reid announced today.
People who have gone on to develop cirrhosis, liver cancer or have undergone a liver transplant will receive an additional £25,000. The scheme is to be implemented across the UK and is planned to start in April this year.
Mr Reid said he felt the patients should receive payments on "compassionate grounds".
Every patient who was alive on the 29 August 2003, and NHS blood or blood products before September 1991 are found to be the cause of the infection, will qualify for payment.
Sufferers will also be eligible if: they have cleared the virus as a result of treatment; they were infected by a third party who had received NHS blood; or if they were infected with HIV as well as Hepatitis C.
Mr Reid said: "I believe that these are fair and reasonable payments and I hope that they will help alleviate some of the problems people who have been affected in this way are experiencing.
"I'm also glad that people who receive awards from the scheme won't have the worry of losing their social security benefits as a result."
An independent body is currently being set up to administer the scheme and arrange for the necessary benefit legislation to be amended.
A publicity campaign is being planned to ensure that eligible claimants know how to make an application
(gmcg)
People who have gone on to develop cirrhosis, liver cancer or have undergone a liver transplant will receive an additional £25,000. The scheme is to be implemented across the UK and is planned to start in April this year.
Mr Reid said he felt the patients should receive payments on "compassionate grounds".
Every patient who was alive on the 29 August 2003, and NHS blood or blood products before September 1991 are found to be the cause of the infection, will qualify for payment.
Sufferers will also be eligible if: they have cleared the virus as a result of treatment; they were infected by a third party who had received NHS blood; or if they were infected with HIV as well as Hepatitis C.
Mr Reid said: "I believe that these are fair and reasonable payments and I hope that they will help alleviate some of the problems people who have been affected in this way are experiencing.
"I'm also glad that people who receive awards from the scheme won't have the worry of losing their social security benefits as a result."
An independent body is currently being set up to administer the scheme and arrange for the necessary benefit legislation to be amended.
A publicity campaign is being planned to ensure that eligible claimants know how to make an application
(gmcg)
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