The Department of Health has announced that those bereaved as a result of NHS contaminated blood, will now receive annual payments if they are registered on the Northern Ireland Infected Blood Payment Scheme.
This is those who have not been infected by contaminated blood but have been left bereaved following the death of a spouse or partner who contracted Hepatitis C or HIV after receiving NHS-supplied infected blood or blood products in Northern Ireland.
Making the announcement Heakth Minister Robin Swann said: “When I took up post as Minister of Health last year, the issue of financial support for those impacted by contaminated blood was something that I wanted to address immediately. I announced one-off payments of £5,000 to non-infected spouses and partners but it was always my intention to provide further financial support as soon as possible.
“I have met with and corresponded with many affected people and I have listened to their experiences of how contaminated blood has impacted on their lives and the sacrifices they have had to make. I want to say to those who have been bereaved: you have not been forgotten. I sincerely hope this annual financial support will provide some long-term financial certainty as well as recognition for those bereaved through contaminated blood.”
The payments represent a Departmental funding commitment of around £400,000 annually and range from £14,079 to £33,561 per year. These payments will be backdated to April 2020 and will continue into future years, rising annually with inflation.
Last year the Department carried out a survey of scheme beneficiaries in Northern Ireland, to seek feedback on the support provided, both financial and in terms of psychological support. The analysis of the survey results is now complete and be found on the Department’s website at: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/infected-blood-payment-scheme-ni-survey-report.
Minister Swann concluded: “The purpose of the survey was to give all beneficiaries an opportunity to have their voices heard and be involved in the ongoing review of the scheme. The feedback we received supports my decision to introduce financial support to the non-infected bereaved spouses and partners. It also highlights a number of other important areas to be addressed and this feedback will be invaluable as I move forward with the ongoing review.”
Phase 2 of the review of the NI Scheme is continuing and consideration will be given to potential reform in other aspects of the scheme, taking into account feedback from the survey Phase 3 will address recommendations from the ongoing UK-wide Infected Blood Inquiry.
Those eligible for the new payments will receive written notification of the details in the coming weeks.
