Infected blood inquiry: Sywell woman calls for 'justice'

Rosemary Calder's son Nicholas died aged 25 as a result of being given infected blood

A mother whose son died after being given contaminated blood has called on the inquiry to deliver "justice".

Nicholas Calder was one of more than 30,000 people infected with HIV and Hepatitis C through contaminated blood products in the UK during the 1970s and 1980s. He died in 1999, aged 25.

The final outcome of an inquiry into the scandal is expected next month.

His mother Rosemary, from Sywell, Northamptonshire, said victims wanted failings to be "acknowledged".

"I'm hoping for truth," she said.

"I'm hoping for the parents who have never been acknowledged, that their children are acknowledged and that people are held accountable.

"Many of those [responsible for giving infected blood] are no longer with us, but I hope those who are will hold their hands up and acknowledge that they did wrong."

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Ms Calder said her "easy-going" son was given blood as part of his treatment for haemophilia, and that medical professionals were evasive when she began asking questions after reading newspaper articles about cases of infected blood.

She said the family "were left to get on with it", after Nicholas tested positive for HIV, aged 11.

Thousands were infected with HIV and hepatitis C, in the worst treatment disaster in NHS history

The UK-wide infected blood inquiry was announced in 2017 after years of campaigning by victims.

The inquiry estimates between 80 and 100 people were infected with HIV, and about 27,000 with Hepatitis C.

In total, it's thought about 2,900 people have died as a result of the scandal. The inquiry will publish its report on 20 May.

A government spokesperson said: "This was an appalling tragedy, and our thoughts remain with all those impacted.

"We have consistently accepted the moral case for compensation, and that's why we have tabled an amendment to the Victims and Prisoners Bill which enables the creation of a UK-wide Infected Blood Compensation Scheme and establishes a new arms-length body to deliver it.

"We will continue to listen carefully to those infected and affected about how we address this dreadful scandal."

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Those infected have received annual financial support from the government, but a final compensation deal has not been agreed.

In late 2022, following advice from the inquiry, the government made interim payments of £100,000 each to around 4,000 surviving victims and some bereaved partners.

Ms Calder said: "No amount of money can bring back what everybody has lost, but compensation will make life easier for those that were involved."