It was the biggest treatment scandal in the British health service: around 30,000 people received blood that was contaminated with HIV, among other things. The government now wants – decades later – to pay billions in compensation.
The British government has announced billions in compensation for victims of a contaminated blood scandal. A total of 11.8 billion pounds (14.1 billion euros) is to be paid out, as Finance Minister Rachel Reeves said in Parliament in London.
In the biggest treatment scandal in the British NHS in the 1970s and 1980s, around 30,000 people received contaminated blood products. More than 3,000 victims died after becoming infected with HIV or hepatitis C during blood transfusions or treatments. A report denounced the failures of politicians, authorities and doctors: the scandal was supposed to be covered up at the time.
The elected conservative government has apologized for the scandal and announced compensation, said Finance Minister Reeves from the Social Democratic Labor Party. But she didn't budget any money for it in her budget.
Also money for victims of postal scandal
The victims of another scandal should also be compensated. This involves incorrect billing at the Post Office service company. Hundreds of post office managers were wrongly accused and, in many cases, convicted of enriching themselves. However, errors in the Fujitsu IT system “Horizon” were responsible. Reeves said £1.8 billion would be earmarked for those affected.
