Tainted Blood Victims May Have Support Cut By £7k

A "tainted blood" victim, who was among thousands infected with HIV and hepatitis C in the 1970s, says proposed health reforms are a "slap in the face".

Joe Peaty, 50, was given contaminated blood on the NHS when he was 15.

He is among thousands of haemophiliac sufferers affected by transfusions using imported blood infected with a range of viruses.

A parliamentary debate is being held later on the planned reforms to annual payments made to the victims.

Campaigners say the proposals would leave many with less money, even pushing them under the poverty line.

Some charities say haemophiliac victims would be up to £7,000 a year worse off.

Mr Peaty claims he would lose £5,000 a year and despite working with government officials on reviews in the past, feels angry at their latest response.

He said: "I've given them the opportunity they needed to sort this out and quite frankly as we sit here today it feels like a betrayal, a real slap in the face for all that trust.

"I'm angry but unfortunately all the anger in the world has been pushed out of many people who are just resigned to the fact that this government do not care.

"They would rather see us die and go away quietly than actually do the right thing."

Campaigners are comparing plans for England with those in Scotland, where they say benefits could be increased for victims

MP Diana Johnson, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Haemophilia and Contaminated Blood, agrees that it is not fair.

"Scotland has come up with its own suggestion about how to help these people which is very different to the English model," she said.

"So there are real problems now about people in different parts of the country who've been harmed by the NHS finding themselves faced with different amounts of support."

A Department of Health spokesperson said: "We want to help everyone affected by this tragedy which is why we have already committed to provide £100m of additional funding to the reformed scheme, on top of the current spend of around £22m per year."

MPs will discuss proposals which the Government says will see more hepatitis C sufferers receive regular support, while maintaining annual payments for those who already receive them.

Charities say the plans will mean many people will not be able to apply for discretionary payments that can top up low incomes, pay for dependent children, fuel allowance and grants to adapt homes.