MP shocked by blood scandal child 'experiments'

Dame Diana Johnson has repeatedly called for victims of the infected blood scandal to be given immediate compensation

An MP who has fought for compensation for victims of the infected blood scandal, said it was "shocking" that children had been "experimented on".

The Labour MP for Hull North, Dame Diana Johnson, said the NHS had "very serious criminal and ethical issues" to answer over medical trials in the 1970s and 1980s.

Thousands of patients were infected with HIV and hepatitis C through contaminated blood and blood products.

The Infected Blood Inquiry is due to publish its final report in May.

Last week, the BBC revealed new documents showed medical trials, involving children, had taken place for more than 15 years with many infected with hepatitis C and HIV.

Dame Diana said more than 160 MPs had backed the campaign for immediate compensation.

She said: "We know that over 3,000 people have already died in the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS, another 680 have died since the public inquiry started in 2018.

"With two people dying on average every week, 100 people have died since Sir Brian [Langstaff] made his final recommendations on paying compensation in April 2023.

"The time to act is now".

In response, Cabinet Office minister John Glen, said he had attempted to "move forward everything I can" on compensation "as quickly as possible" since taking on the role last November.

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