Hansard

I draw members’ attention to my entry in the register of members’ interests, as a practising NHS general practitioner.

The contaminated blood products scandal has deeply scarred our four nations. More than 30,000 people in the UK were infected with HIV and hepatitis C during the 1970s and 1980s in what has been called

“the biggest treatment disaster in NHS history”.

For many people, the NHS bought blood products from suppliers whose sources, which included American prisons, often had extremely low contamination-screening standards. Much of the blood was contaminated with sexually transmitted diseases and other viruses that are commonly passed on through needle sharing.

The contaminated products were phased out by 1985, when heat-treated products were introduced. It is estimated that from the 1970s to 1991 around 3,000 people in Scotland were infected with hepatitis C through NHS blood or blood products, and some were infected with HIV in the early 1980s. Many have since died, leaving behind devastated families. To those who lost loved ones or who continue to suffer, the Scottish Conservatives offer their deepest sympathies. We are united in offering our sincerest condolences and unwavering support to all victims.

It is beyond terrible that the NHS patients were given the contaminated blood and that wrongs were committed at all levels. We now share the responsibility for righting those wrongs. Therefore, I support the legislative consent motion for the Victims and Prisoners Bill, which paves the way for the establishment of a single UK-wide compensation scheme to ensure a consistent approach, regardless of where in the UK a victim or family lives.

Justice delayed is justice denied. It is incumbent upon us to process applications as efficiently as possible and to ensure that all those who are affected receive the support that they need and deserve.

Communication is important. We need to double down on efforts to encourage all those in our country who have not yet come forward for compensation to do so. That extends to families, even if their infected family member has since died.

As we confront this dark chapter in our recent history, we must recognise the invaluable lessons that it imparts, including on the importance of dealing with any future failures in such a manner that transparency, compassion and justice prevail.