The infected blood inquiry is due to publish its final report today on failings that concerned over 30,000 people in the UK.
The landmark inquiry will detail how those affected by the scandal were infected with deadly viruses during the 1970s and 1980s due to contaminated blood products.
The latest evidence submitted to the inquiry suggests that nearly 2,000 of victims are living with undetected hepatitus C as a result of the scandal.
Compensation worth more than £10bn is set to be announced by ministers after Jeremy Hunt said it would fulfil a personal promise he made to one of his constituents 10 years ago.
The prime minister is also expected to make an official apology after the inquiry unveils its damning findings.
The defence secretary Grant Shapps said that families affected by the fiasco have been “let down” over decades, and that their cases constitute one of the most shameful failures of government he has seen.
Asked if the process of compensation had taken too long, even in recent years, Mr Shapps told Sky News: “Yes, I think it has been too slow, of course I do.”
Goverment will have to address any evidence of criminal wrongdoing in the report
The government will have to address any evidence of criminal wrongdoing in the report into the infected blood scandal, Paymaster General John Glen has said.
Asked how likely it is that criminal proceedings could be brought, he told LBC: “If there’s clear evidence and there is a pathway to that, then it’s obviously something the Government will have to address. I can’t be sure, but we’ve got to give these people justice.”
He said the government has not yet seen the report, which is due to be released at 12.30pm, and would not confirm the reported £10 billion compensation figure.
“Today it’s about actually coming to terms with the British state being culpable for a lot of suffering for a lot of people,” he said.
What is the infected blood scandal? Everything you need to know ahead of milestone report
Here’s everything you need to know about the infected blood scandal ahead of the inquiry’s final report:
Maryam Zakir-Hussain20 May 2024 08:36
‘Too slow’: minister admits infected blood scandal victims have waited too long for compensation
Campaigners have demanded urgent action after a cabinet minister admitted that victims of the infected blood scandal had been forced to wait too long for compensation.
A landmark inquiry will set out on Monday how decades of failures led to one of the worst disasters in NHS history.
Lives were devastated when more than 30,000 people were given contaminated blood or blood products between the 1970s and the early 1990s.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain20 May 2024 08:35
Infected blood public inquiry due to publish final report today
Victims of the infected blood scandal have described feeling “emotional and nervous” as the final report into the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS is due to be published.
The Infected Blood Inquiry will conclude on Monday after decades of “tireless” work by campaigners.
Prime minister Rishi Sunak is widely expected to issue an apology following the publication of the report, which will lay bare the scale of the failings.
Tens of thousands of people in the UK were infected with deadly viruses after they were given contaminated blood and blood products between the 1970s and early 1990s.
These include people who needed blood transfusions for accidents, in surgery or during childbirth, and patients with certain blood disorders who were treated with donated blood plasma products or blood transfusions.
Some 3,000 people have died and others have been left with lifelong health complications after being infected with viruses including hepatitis C and HIV.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain20 May 2024 08:34