§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent further representations his Department has had from, or on behalf of, people with haemophilia who, in the course of NHS treatment were infected with hepatitis C; what plans he has to compensate them or in cases where the patient has died from infection, their dependents; and if he will make a statement. [20367]
§ Mr. HoramI refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon, South (Mr. Marshall) on 5 December 1995, columns130–31, since when, Ministers have received 34 further letters about payments to people who have developed hepatitis C through blood or blood products. Not all these letters were necessarily concerned solely or primarily with haemophiliacs.
As we have made clear in recent debates and in response to questions, the Government have great sympathy with those who may have been inadvertently infected with hepatitis C through national health service treatment, but as no fault or negligence on the part of the NHS has been proved, we have no plans to make special payments. Our view remains that the best way for the Government to help is to encourage research, and best treatment for those infected as well as supporting voluntary groups working with those infected. This we are already doing.
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§ Mr. MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of deaths among people with haemophilia who in the course of NHS treatment were infected with hepatitis C at the latest date for which figures are available. [20368]
§ Mr. HoramFigures for deaths of people with haemophilia infected with hepatitis C are not collected centrally by Government. I understand from the United Kingdom Haemophilia Centre directors that the cause of death of 14 out of the 159 haemophilia patients known to have died in 1994, was shown as liver disease, of which hepatitis C may have been the cause.