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Victims of the infected blood scandal have called for a TV drama to highlight their heartbreaking stories in wake of ITV’s Mr Bates vs the Post Office.

The scandal saw thousands of patients infected with HIV and hepatitis C through contaminated blood products in the 1970s and 1980s.

Patients are still awaiting for answers as to why this tragedy took place, whilst others are yet to receive any sort of compensation payout, after the publication of a final report into the scandal has been delayed until May.

Now, those affected are hoping for a similar TV drama to that given to the Post Office scandal, which sparked nationwide outrage over what has been described as one of the most widespread miscarriages of justice in British history.

Des Collins, the senior partner at Collins Solicitors, which represents 1,037 infected and affected individuals, said TV dramas are effective in ‘propelling’ scandals back into the national spotlight. 

Louise Huxley, who brother Peter tested positive for Hep C and died of liver cancer following a blood transfusion in 1985, shared her traumatic story on Good Morning Britain today.

Louise Huxley, who brother Peter tested positive for Hep C and died of liver cancer following a blood transfusion in 1985, shared her traumatic story on Good Morning Britain today.

Peter was informed 10 tears after the transfusion that the blood he was given may have been contaminated

Peter was informed 10 tears after the transfusion that the blood he was given may have been contaminated

Now, those affected are hoping for a similar TV drama to that given to the Post Office scandal, which sparked nationwide outrage over what has been described as one of the most widespread miscarriages of justice in British history

Now, those affected are hoping for a similar TV drama to that given to the Post Office scandal, which sparked nationwide outrage over what has been described as one of the most widespread miscarriages of justice in British history

Speaking on Good Morning Britain, he said: ‘I think it has been propelled back to centre stage and it needed to propel back to centre stage. For years, the post office workers could never get any traction on their case. 

‘They wondered when would anyone listen to them and it was that ITV programme that did it.’   

Louise Huxley, whose brother Peter tested positive for hepatitis C and died of liver cancer following a blood transfusion in 1985, shared her traumatic story on Good Morning Britain today.

Peter was informed 10 tears after the transfusion that the blood he was given may have been contaminated. 

She said: ‘He started to get ill very quickly after he received the news in 1995. 

‘It wasn’t just his health, it was the stigma that was attached. I remember he was so paranoid that I took my son to his house and he had a razor that he had put in the bin from a shave that morning. 

‘He kept saying “please, please, please don’t let your son go near the bin” because he was so worried of the stigma.

‘That blood should have not have been brought into the NHS. It should have been tested.’

Asked how long after the transfusion she felt the NHS knew the blood was contaminated, Ms Huxley added: ‘It happened before his transfusion. This is what we are so angry about. 

‘We knew in 1985 when he had the transfusion the nHs had had multiple warnings that this blood was contaminated.’ 

Ms Huxley says she has contacted her MP twice on the issue, but is yet to receive a reply.

Compensation payments to victims and their families could reportedly cost between £5billion to £22billion.

The Government has already paid out around £400million in interim compensation payments, with ministers having wanted to wait until the ongoing inquiry has concluded before establishing a full scheme.

But they could have their hands forced after Labour put their support behind an amendment – being backed by rebel Tory MPs – to establish a body to adminster payouts within three months.

Labour shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves wrote to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to inform him of her party’s support for the amendment to the Victims and Prisoners Bill.

She described the infected blood scandal as ‘one of the most appalling tragedies in our country’s recent history’.

‘This week we have the opportunity to work together to begin to bring justice for the victims,’ Ms Reeves said in December.  

‘Blood infected with Hepatitis C and HIV has stolen life, denied opportunities and harmed livelihoods.’

The infected blood scandal saw thousands of patients infected with HIV and hepatitis C through contaminated blood products in the 1970s and 1980s

The infected blood scandal saw thousands of patients infected with HIV and hepatitis C through contaminated blood products in the 1970s and 1980s

Labour shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves wrote to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt this weekend to inform him of her party's support for the amendment to the Victims and Prisoners Bill

Labour shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves wrote to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt this weekend to inform him of her party’s support for the amendment to the Victims and Prisoners Bill

The independent inquiry into the scandal was due to publish its final report this autumn but the document will now be published in March 2024 due to the ‘sheer volume and scale of the material’.

Under an initial scheme, only victims themselves or bereaved partners can receive an interim payment of around £100,000.

Labour’s shadow minister for victims and sentencing Kevin Brennan has also tabled an amendment which would require the Government to respond to the final report of the independent Infected Blood Inquiry within 25 days.

‘This is not a party political issue,’ Ms Reeves said. ‘All of us have a responsibility to act now to address this historic wrong.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: ‘It would not be right to pre-empt the findings of the final report.’

‘We made interim payments of £100,000 to victims and their families registered with infected blood support schemes across the UK and we are prepared to respond as quickly as possible once the final report is published.’

Another public injustice which has recently gained national attention is the Post Office Horizon scandal. 

The Minister in charge of the Post Office cried twice while watching the ITV dramatisation of the Horizon scandal, he has revealed.

In an interview with The Mail on Sunday, Kevin Hollinrake described watching Mr Bates Vs The Post Office at home with his wife while Parliament was in recess.

 ‘We were both shocked,’ he said. ‘I think I cried more than she did.’

The Minister’s tears flowed in the courtroom scenes with Jo Hamilton, played by Monica Dolan, and when the sub-postmasters won their case, too, he told the MoS.

Mr Hollinrake wants the show to win all the awards at the Baftas and for actor Toby Jones to be given a knighthood – but not before Alan Bates, who Jones played in the drama, is awarded one first. 

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This post first appeared on Daily mail