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Government responds to Archer Inquiry

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH News Release issued by COI News Distribution Service on

The Government today responded to the independent inquiry into contaminated blood supplies in the 1970s and 1980s.

In a Written Ministerial Statement, Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo set out the Government's response to the Archer Inquiry into individuals infected by HIV and hepatitis C through infected NHS blood and blood products.

The response includes:

* there will be a significant increase in annual payments to £12,800 for individuals infected with HIV, in addition to the £45 million already given out in lump sums and discretionary payments;

* further support for the Haemophilia Society of £100,000 per year for the next five years; and

* a commitment to review the financial relief for individuals affected by hepatitis C in five years.

Tough measures are already in place to prevent similar events happening in the future. To ensure all patients with bleeding disorders who may have been infected have been identified, a look back exercise will be undertaken.

Minister for Public Health, Dawn Primarolo said:

"I would like to offer my deepest sympathy to all those who suffered in this tragic episode. Sadly, it was not possible to effectively test for these viruses in the 1970s and early 80s and we deeply regret that these events occurred following NHS treatment.

"Steps to safeguard blood products against HIV and hepatitis C have been in place since 1985. Every reasonable step to minimise risks from blood transfusion has been taken and robust screening measures are in place to protect patients.

"In addition to the £150 million already given out in lump sums and discretionary payments to those infected with HIV and hepatitis C, financial help for those infected with HIV will rise to £12,800 per year."

The full response to Lord Archer's report has been placed in the Library of the House.

In keeping with the Government's commitment to make information available that relates to this period, the remaining 468 relevant documents have been placed on the Department of Health website:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/FreedomOfInformation/Freedomofinformationpublicationschemefeedback/FOIreleases/DH_076693

Notes to editors

1) The Macfarlane Trust and Eileen Trust, provide ex gratia lump sum and discretionary payments to, respectively, haemophiliacs and others, who contracted HIV from infected blood and blood products, and their dependents. More than £45m has already been paid and there are currently around 600 beneficiaries. At present, payments to individuals vary but the current average annual payment is approximately £6,400 per year.

Payments to individuals infected with hepatitis C from infected blood and blood products are made through the Skipton Fund. A total of £97m has been paid to date to more than 4,000 individuals. The Skipton Fund will continue to make payments to people infected with hepatitis C and the Government today commits to reviewing it in 2014 when the Fund will have been in existence for ten years.

3) For further information, contact the Department of Health press office newsdesk on 020 7210 5221

ENDS