Overview

This bill aims to provide support for individuals infected with diseases through contaminated NHS blood and blood products, and their families. It establishes a committee to advise on haemophilia treatment, improves blood donation safety, creates a compensation scheme, and initiates a review of existing support.

Description

The bill covers several key areas:

• Haemophilia Advisory Committee: A new committee will be formed to advise on haemophilia treatment, including access to therapies and addressing the needs of those infected by contaminated blood.
• Blood Donation Safety: The bill mandates improved safety measures for the blood supply, including prion filtration and routine testing for various diseases (hepatitis B, C, HIV, HTLV, syphilis, and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease).
• NHS Compensation Cards: A scheme will provide free NHS services (prescriptions, counselling, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, home nursing) and priority treatment to those infected by contaminated blood.
• Financial Compensation: Financial compensation will be provided to infected individuals, their carers, widows, and dependants, without means testing or conditions based on the reason for, age at, or timing of treatment.
• Review of Support: A review will assess the support for infected individuals and their families, including eligibility criteria for dependants, medical insurance provision, identification of other affected individuals, and funding for relevant charities.

Government Spending

The bill will likely lead to increased government spending on compensation payments, healthcare services (through NHS Compensation Cards), and the operation of the advisory committee and review. Specific figures are not provided in the bill text.

Groups Affected

• People with haemophilia: Will benefit from improved treatment advice and blood donation safety measures.
• Individuals infected by contaminated blood products: Will receive NHS Compensation Cards, free healthcare services, priority treatment, and financial compensation.
• Carers, widows, and dependants of infected individuals: Will receive financial compensation.
• NHS: Will be responsible for implementing the new schemes and providing services outlined in the bill.
• Blood donors: Will be subject to expanded testing protocols
• Charities supporting people with haemophilia: May see changes in funding following the review.

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