Daughter of blood scandal victim welcomes changes to compensation scheme
Louise Huitson from Kettering, lost her dad in 2021 aged 54 after he received infected blood products.
A Kettering woman whose dad passed away after being given infected blood products says there's a lot of positivity, after changes to the compensation scheme were announced.
Two weeks ago a damning report was published into delays regarding the compensation scheme for people infected with blood products between the 1970s and early 1990s.
More than 30,000 people in the UK were infected with HIV and hepatitis C while receiving NHS care.
The new rules mean estates of affected people who have already died will be able to claim payments.
Louise Huitson's dad Joseph passed away in 2021 aged 54, from complications after he received infected blood, at the Oxford Haemophilia Centre sometime between 1980 and 1987.
She says the interim payments will make a big difference:
"The interim payment is going to make a massive difference. For me personally, it's going to make a difference in that I can actually look at potentially getting back into work a little bit sooner."
Louise is on maternity leave from her job after the birth of her son, who shares a middle name with her dad.
Louise says the changes will also help her step mother:
"She was left with big mortgage because people who were affected can't couldn't get life insurance. So it's going on really help her, you know, pay the massive mortgage that she was left with to pay on her own."
As well as this, around 1,000 people who are already eligible will be able to claim a higher amount, including chronic Hepatitis C individuals.
Confirming the changes, minister for the Cabinet Office Nick Thomas-Symonds said the government has "concentrated on removing barriers to quicker compensation".
Some 3,000 people have died after they were given contaminated blood and blood products. Survivors live with lifelong implications.
The scheme will also be widened to some people who don't currently qualify.
Under the current mechanism, if someone who was infected dies before receiving full compensation, then any final award can be passed on to their relatives through their estate.
The changes announced yesterday mean that if the affected person has died after May 21st 2024, or dies in future before receiving compensation, their estate will be able to make a claim.
It's also been revealed a Memorial to the victims will also be planned.