Scottish government tells contaminated blood victims: "We will do all we can to deliver justice and support"
|
Version 0 of 1. Nicola Sturgeon has pledged that the Scottish government will do “everything we can to deliver justice and support” to the victims of Scotland’s contaminated blood scandal, after campaigners dismissed yesterday’s Penrose inquiry report as a “whitewash”. On Thursday afternoon, Scottish health minister Shona Robison set out a series of measures, including: It estimated that nearly 3,000 people in Scotland were infected with hepatitis C and 78 people contracted HIV over 30 years ago after the authorities failed to screen blood supplies and blood products for the potentially fatal viruses. The charity Haemophilia Scotland estimates that 193 people have died as a result of the contamination. Victims and families reacted angrily to the findings of the five-year inquiry, headed by the former judge Lord Penrose, which offered only a single recommendation, for anyone who had a blood transfusion before 1991 to be tested for hepatitis C. There were shouts of “whitewash” as the report was presented at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh on Wednesday morning, and several relatives burned a copy outside the building. Describing the infected blood scandal as “the biggest tragedy that has faced our health service”, Robison told the Holyrood chamber on Thursday afternoon: I realise there may be some criticism of the cost and length of time it has taken for the inquiry to reach its findings and I am very aware that for many the inquiry conclusions do not reach their expectations. She insisted that further action would be “driven by those affected”, and stated that she was “open-minded” about whether to move forward on a UK-wide basis or act using devolved powers. (Because the contamination occurred more than three decades ago, early support schemes pre-date devolution.) But Robison insisted: “What I am clear about is that we will not stand back or stall on our moral duty to make sure those affected have the proper and adequate support.” Speaking earlier on Thursday at first minister’s questions, Nicola Sturgeon said that she apologised “openly and without reservation” on behalf of the Scottish government and the NHS. She stressed that the Scottish government regarded the publication of the report as only the beginning of engagement with those affected. As health secretary I set up the Penrose Inquiry. Now that I am first minister I am absolutely determined that we do everything we can to deliver justice and support to those who have suffered so much. Bill Wright of Haemophilia Scotland, himself in receipt of contaminated blood, welcomed both ministers’ statements, saying: People are much more reflective today. The apology is what we’ve been looking for for many years, and it’s clear there’s a different approach in Scotland in terms of working with families. After the initial fury yesterday, people will now start to look at the report in detail and at all of the evidence rather than the conclusions of one inquiry chairman. Wright added that the key issue now was one of pace. “There needs to be a balance between the immediate needs of those in poverty now and a longer-term settlement.” David Cameron yesterday likewise apologised and promised to release £25m in financial support for the victims immediately, and today under-secretary of state for health Jane Ellison told the Commons that she regretted that more could not be done in the present parliament. This is an interim response to a long and detailed report and all matters will need to be considered by the next government. I am very well aware of the high level of concern amongst sufferers with the way the current financial assistance schemes workand I certainly think they will need to be loooked at in more detail. |