HC Deb 10 March 1998 vol 308 cc114-5W
Mr. Gerrard

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assistance is currently available from his Department for people with haemophilia infected with hepatitis C through their NHS treatment; and what are his plans for future assistance. [33281]

Ms Jowell

The Department provides financial support to the Haemophilia Society, whose work includes assisting those with haemophilia who are infected with hepatitis C. The grants to the Society (which this year total £200,000) include support for a specific project to look into the best ways for the Haemophilia Society to support those of its members who are infected with hepatitis C and their families.

We are currently considering the level of future support for the Haemophilia Society, including their bid for additional funds to enable them to offer further practical help to those infected with hepatitis C.

The Department has also made a total of £1.5 million available over a two year period to aid research into hepatitis C, its natural history and optimal treatment. While primarily geared to improve the understanding of hepatitis C generally, any developments from this will be important to haemophiliacs infected with the hepatitis C virus.