Samantha Baker agreed in her oral evidence to the Inquiry that by mid 2020 there had not been much progress over the previous year: "the UK Government hadn't been able to secure any additional funding so that there was a lack of progress as a result of that and things weren't progressing as quickly as we'd expected" [regarding the payment schemes]. Read more about Samantha Baker agreed in her oral evidence to the Inquiry that by mid 2020 there had not been much progress over the previous year: "the UK Government hadn't been able to secure any additional funding so that there was a lack of progress as a result of that and things weren't progressing as quickly as we'd expected" [regarding the payment schemes].
Martin Bell, director of NHS Scotland, was against introducing additional bureaucracy which might potentially slow anything down. Read more about Martin Bell, director of NHS Scotland, was against introducing additional bureaucracy which might potentially slow anything down.
Samantha Baker (the team leader with overall responsibility for infected blood within the Scottish Government's Health Protection Division) told the Inquiry that parity had not been a prominent part of the regular four nations' meetings until 2019. Read more about Samantha Baker (the team leader with overall responsibility for infected blood within the Scottish Government's Health Protection Division) told the Inquiry that parity had not been a prominent part of the regular four nations' meetings until 2019.
The AHO's system was intended to make ex-gratia payments, but were not intended to be compensatory. Read more about The AHO's system was intended to make ex-gratia payments, but were not intended to be compensatory.
SIBSS was established, to be administered by the Common Services Agency for the Scottish Health Service, and began operations on 1 April 2017. Read more about SIBSS was established, to be administered by the Common Services Agency for the Scottish Health Service, and began operations on 1 April 2017.
The Scottish Government faced challenges when seeking changes in levels of assistance from the AHOs, as any change required all four nations to agree and to identify additional funding. Read more about The Scottish Government faced challenges when seeking changes in levels of assistance from the AHOs, as any change required all four nations to agree and to identify additional funding.
The Expert Group on Financial and Other Support made a number of recommendations in its report (Ross Report). Read more about The Expert Group on Financial and Other Support made a number of recommendations in its report (Ross Report).
The report, "HCV Contaminated Blood Scoping Exercise" aimed to assist the Scottish Government in understanding more clearly the scope and scale of the unmet needs resulting from Hepatitis C infection and to detail the support required by those affected. Read more about The report, "HCV Contaminated Blood Scoping Exercise" aimed to assist the Scottish Government in understanding more clearly the scope and scale of the unmet needs resulting from Hepatitis C infection and to detail the support required by those affected.
Advance notice of the Department of Health's consultation on payment schemes was not provided to Northern Ireland. Read more about Advance notice of the Department of Health's consultation on payment schemes was not provided to Northern Ireland.
Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales were not given the opportunity to review the Department of Health consultation paper on payment schemes before they were released. Read more about Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales were not given the opportunity to review the Department of Health consultation paper on payment schemes before they were released.