Hepatitis compensation fund launched
The Scottish Health Minister has announced that application forms are now available for those seeking compensation after contracting Hepatitis C.
Patients who contracted the disease from NHS blood, blood products or tissues before September 1991 are eligible for compensation.
The Skipton Fund will process all UK claims.
The fund was due to have been opened in April, and despite Thursday’s launch, claims will not be processed until July 5th.
Malcolm Chisholm said: “I am very pleased that the fund will start processing claims from July 5th. I hope that everyone in Scotland who is entitled to apply will come forward.
“We have been working hard with patient groups and others involved to ensure we have a system that is easy to use and understand.
“This has been a long process and I am pleased that we are now at the stage of getting payments to those who have been affected.”
Scottish National Party health spokesperson Shona Robison said that the announcement was long overdue.
Ms Robison said: “While this is better than nothing, it still represents a very poor deal for Hepatitis C sufferers and their families, especially when compared to what has been offered in other countries.”
“I am also bitterly disappointed that widows of sufferers will not have the right to apply for compensation and that there is a cut off date where no money will be paid for those people who have sadly already died.”
The scheme will administer lump sum payments of £20,000 to applicants and a further £25,000 if an “advanced stage” of illness is reached.
The basic definition of advanced stage is when a patient receives a liver transplant, or develops cirrhosis or liver cancer.
Other social security benefits will not be affected by the payments.
It is not certain exactly how many people will be eligible for the fund but the Haemophilia Society estimates that 5000 people with Haemophilia were infected with Hepatitis C in the 1970s and 1980s.
NHS blood supplies are now specially treated and screened to prevent the transmission of HIV and Hepatitis C.
