Melanie Johnson asked her civil servants to estimate the costs of extending the proposed scheme to cover people who were coinfected, those who had cleared Hepatitis C following treatment, and dependants. Richard Gutowski recommended that those who were coinfected and those who had cleared Hepatitis C be made eligible but that extending the scheme to dependants "would at least double the cost of the scheme and remains unaffordable within the existing budgets of all the four Health Departments." Read more about Melanie Johnson asked her civil servants to estimate the costs of extending the proposed scheme to cover people who were coinfected, those who had cleared Hepatitis C following treatment, and dependants. Richard Gutowski recommended that those who were coinfected and those who had cleared Hepatitis C be made eligible but that extending the scheme to dependants "would at least double the cost of the scheme and remains unaffordable within the existing budgets of all the four Health Departments."
Peter Stevens made suggestions for expanding eligibility for the Hepatitis C ex gratia payment scheme. Read more about Peter Stevens made suggestions for expanding eligibility for the Hepatitis C ex gratia payment scheme.
The Secretary of State agreed to the various component parts of the Hepatitis C ex gratia payment scheme. Read more about The Secretary of State agreed to the various component parts of the Hepatitis C ex gratia payment scheme.
The Secretary of State made an announcement regarding payments following the Archer Inquiry report. Read more about The Secretary of State made an announcement regarding payments following the Archer Inquiry report.
"The Scotsman" reported Lord Ross was "on a collision course with Westminster which has ruled out making payments south of the Border. Now the Department of Health is expected to obstruct payments in Scotland, arguing that the Executive does not have the power to make such decisions." Read more about "The Scotsman" reported Lord Ross was "on a collision course with Westminster which has ruled out making payments south of the Border. Now the Department of Health is expected to obstruct payments in Scotland, arguing that the Executive does not have the power to make such decisions."
Richard Gutowski sent a submission to John Reid and others on the issues around setting up a compensation scheme for Hepatitis C sufferers in England. Read more about Richard Gutowski sent a submission to John Reid and others on the issues around setting up a compensation scheme for Hepatitis C sufferers in England.
A template letter for queries about why homosexual men could not donate blood explained: "Current screening tests for blood still fail to pick up people with very early infection. This is called the window period when people with HIV have not yet developed markers of HIV infection. We are also concerned about viral hepatitis (hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus)." Read more about A template letter for queries about why homosexual men could not donate blood explained: "Current screening tests for blood still fail to pick up people with very early infection. This is called the window period when people with HIV have not yet developed markers of HIV infection. We are also concerned about viral hepatitis (hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus)."
In a memo to the Secretary of State regarding the Hepatitis C ex gratia scheme, Richard Gutowski explained the Haemophilia Society had stated "they could not accept" the scheme proposed. Read more about In a memo to the Secretary of State regarding the Hepatitis C ex gratia scheme, Richard Gutowski explained the Haemophilia Society had stated "they could not accept" the scheme proposed.
The parameters of the Hepatitis C financial assistance fund were set out in a submission to the Secretary of State. The position on natural clearers was "No payments to those who have cleared the virus spontaneously". Read more about The parameters of the Hepatitis C financial assistance fund were set out in a submission to the Secretary of State. The position on natural clearers was "No payments to those who have cleared the virus spontaneously".
A document relating to spontaneous clearance of Hepatitis C suggested press lines to be adopted, including "Ministers have made it clear from the outset that the scheme would only make payments to patients who had experienced lasting physiological harm as a result of their infection." Read more about A document relating to spontaneous clearance of Hepatitis C suggested press lines to be adopted, including "Ministers have made it clear from the outset that the scheme would only make payments to patients who had experienced lasting physiological harm as a result of their infection."