Infected blood victim 'relief' over compensation

Andy Evans is among thousands of people infected by contaminated blood products by the NHS

A victim of the contaminated blood scandal has expressed his relief at the government's pledge to continue with compensation payments.

The size of the payouts will depend on individual circumstances but could reach £2m for some of the more than 30,000 people in the UK infected by contaminated blood products in the 1970s and 80s.

Andy Evans, from Evesham in Worcestershire, contracted HIV and hepatitis C when he was given an infected product by the NHS at the age of five.

"I was infected 42 years ago, I'm one of the few to survive it and those 42 years have been a struggle," he said.

He set up the Tainted Blood campaign in 2006 to advocate for the victims and although he welcomes the latest announcement he said it was too late for others and their families.

About 3,000 of the victims have since died. Mr Evans said: "It's way overdue, we're 40 years down the line from the infections.

"I'm not sure any amount of money would be good enough to account for the atrocities and horrors throughout the length of this scandal," he said.

'Some sense of normality'

The compensation will be judged under five criteria – harm caused, social impact from stigma and isolation, impact on autonomy and private life, care costs and financial loss.

The previous government had introduced the scheme in May after the publication of the public inquiry report into the scandal. First payments are expected to be made by the end of this year.

Family members and loved ones of those infected will also be entitled to compensation at a later date.

Mr Evans said he believed most people would be entitled to only a quarter of the £2m and said it was unfortunate that money was the only way to "recoup for lost times and experiences."

"I'm relieved for everybody who will finally get back some of the life that they had taken away from them by this scandal.

"The compensation that they are due will hopefully help them bring back some sense of normality in life and help them to live out the rest of their life in some comfort" he said.