Minister ‘must deliver on contaminated blood support’: Martina Anderson

Martina Anderson MLA (second from right) with members of the Friends and Families of Haemophilia NI group before their meeting with Health Minister Robin Swann.

The Foyle MLA was commenting after accompanying a number of local families to meet with Health Minister Robin Swann on Thursday.

At the meeting, the families asked why the Department of Health was withholding ringfenced monies to be allocated directly to those infected and affected in NI.

Described as the worst treatment disaster to ever hit the NHS, up to 30,000 people in the UK were infected with contaminated blood and blood products in the 1970s and 80s. More than 2,400 are thought to have died.

Martina Anderson says the “scandal” has caused immense suffering to those affected.

“The tragedy of contaminated blood affected the entire Health Service but victims here are not being supported with the same financial assistance as those in England,” she added.

“That is wrong and we told the minister that he needs to redress this inequality as a matter of urgency.

“As part of redressing this disparity, £1 million was allocated by the Sinn Féin Finance Minister Conor Murphy.

“However, only £600,000 of this has been confirmed by the Department of Health. Again, this is unacceptable and we told the minister this money needs to go directly to those who it is intended for.

“The department and the minister should be doing everything possible to alleviate the suffering of those affected by contaminated blood and to ensure they are properly supported.

“However, by delaying vital financial assistance, the minister is only adding to their suffering and that needs to stop.”