Sir John Major: Victims of infected blood scandal suffer ‘badly’

Thousands of victims of the infected blood scandal have suffered “incredible pitfalls,” said Sir John Major, a former prime minister.

Sir John was questioned during the interrogation examination of infected blood on correspondence within the government when it became apparent that compensation would be needed for the victims of the scandal.

Infection of up to 30,000 people with HIV or hepatitis C from contaminated blood is called the greatest treatment disaster in NHS history.

Thousands died when contaminated blood products were imported from the U.S. in the 1970s and 1980s, often from prisoners, sex workers, and drug addicts who were paid to donate blood.

Sir John was asked about one letter he wrote in November 1987, when he was chief secretary at the Ministry of Finance, in which he said: “I must say that although in fairness it seems that something can be gained from a positive answer, it would seem to have very real dangers.

“How could such a precedent be prevented? It could lead to an open commitment of great proportions.

“Wouldn’t that lead to a lawsuit against the government for the consequences of negligence?

“Have law firms given a look at the possible consequences of a compassionate response?

“I don’t think we can afford that kind of response until we thoroughly examine the pros and cons.”

“Offensive and complacent”

Asked about the letter during a public inquiry on Monday, Sir John said he stressed the need to consider the pros and cons, including how much compensation should be offered.

He described the effects of the scandal on the victims as “horror” and added: “There is no compensation that could actually compensate for what happened to them.

“What happened to them was an incredible pitch – awful – and no one was displeased.”

Sir John’s comment that they were victims of “incredible pitch” caused an angry sigh in some of those present at the investigation.

Victims have long believed that the scale of the pollution scandal was masked.

Responding to a comment Monday, Clive Smith, president of the Hemophilia Society, said in a statement: “Today’s evidence by Sir John Major that the suffering and death of more than 3,000 people with hemophilia and other bleeding disorders due to contaminated NHS treatment is ‘poor’ is both offensive and complacent.

“His proof is a reminder that successive governments have refused to take responsibility for this treatment catastrophe for the past 30 years – and the denial continues.

“Even now, people are still dying from an infection infected in the 1980s, and they are dying without justice.

“Those infected and affected by HIV / AIDS and hepatitis C caused by infected blood and the blood clotting factors prescribed by the NHS continue to fight for responsibility, proper recognition of their suffering and redress. “

Thatcher would accept the settlement

Sir John later said he would probably have accepted it if an agreed settlement on compensation for victims of infected blood had been submitted to Margaret Thatcher.

In the investigation, he said he has some “hawkish” views, but they were not universal.

He said: “People who don’t know Mrs. Thatcher assume that the legend of Mrs. Thatcher is the real Mrs. Thatcher. But under the legend of the unyielding Iron Lady was someone who often relented and often looked at things on a human basis to would be much larger in scope than is attributed to it.

“It may not have been universally true, but in my experience it often was.”