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A briefing prepared for a meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee on Health (involving ministers from across the UK) recognised that the existing line would be difficult to sustain in the rest of the UK if the Scottish Executive "commits to the Scottish Parliament report."

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Jane Colman sent an email to Charles Lister recording the agreement to hold the policy line that no payments would be made in respect of Hepatitis C infection through blood and blood products except where awarded by the courts.

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John Hutton, responding to an adjournment debate, acknowledged that the issue of compensation was "the most difficult decision of all".

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The speaking notes prepared for Baroness Hayman clearly suggested that the reasons at the time the scheme was introduced related to stigma and transmission to partners.

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An internal email from David Dunleavy and Gwen Skinner to Trish Fretten queried whether it was the case that "we thought we were on weak legal ground in the HIV case...When it comes down to what was or may have been said publicly I suspect that it is difficult to find any difference in the merits of the groups themselves ie between then and now."

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In her written answer in response to Lord Morris of Manchester, Baroness Hayman referred to the very high level of stigma attached to HIV in the 1980s.

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The Haemophilia Society wrote to Lord Morris of Manchester taking issue with Baroness Hayman's answer to his question in parliament on the basis that it did not represent an accurate explanation of the Government's decision in 1987 to introduce a special payments scheme for those infected with HIV.

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Lord Philip Hunt took over from Baroness Hayman in July 1999 and in September attended a briefing with officials regarding the Hepatitis C issue.

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Lord Philip Hunt was advised that ministers had taken a clear decision not to award a special payment scheme but that there was continued unhappiness and lobbying.

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A line to take drafted for ministers sought to justify the difference between Hepatitis C and HIV on the basis that the decision to make special payments for the latter was an exception by the previous Government "in circumstances where the only prospect for these patients was early death."

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In response to Lord Hunt's request for an outline costing of a hardship fund for people with haemophilia infected with Hepatitis C, the advice was that such a fund would be unlikely to be acceptable.

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Charles Lister, providing advice to Lord Hunt regarding the Hepatitis C litigation against the National Blood Authority, noted that settlement of that litigation (or an award of damages by the court) would give rise to "inevitable claims of inequity from the Haemophilia Society".

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Lord Hunt noted a clear and defendable distinction between settlement of litigation and the Government's continued refusal to compensate people with haemophilia infected with HCV through blood products on the basis of non-negligent harm.

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In October 2000, Lord Hunt sought advice on what could be offered in terms of a package of care for victims of HCV, as noted in an email chain from Sue Cartwright to Charles Lister.

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In a memo from Jane Verity and Charles Lister to Sue Cartwright, officials provided Lord Hunt a co-ordinated approach to problems associated with Hepatitis C treatment.

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In a memo from Lord Hunt to others, he proposed a co-ordinated package of care to those infected with HCV.

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Charles Lister in his statement to the Inquiry stated that Sandra Falconer noted that the Scottish Executive was seeking to maintain the common UK position.

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Charles Lister in his statement noted that campaigners from Manor House and Haemophilia Action UK staged a protest march demanding compensation.

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Charles Lister responded to questions by Yvette Cooper noting that it would be difficult to make payments to those with haemophilia without making payments to those infected via blood transfusion.

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In early July 2001, Yvette Cooper approved an amended line to take regarding ministers "reviewing the case for compensation".

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