§ Mr. SkinnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Gedling (Mr. Coaker) of 28 July 1998,Official Report, column 179, what the basis was for his statement that haemophiliacs suffering from hepatitis C infected through contaminated blood products during NHS treatment do not suffer the same stigma as haemophiliacs suffering from HIV virus infected in the same way. [59762]
§ Mr. HuttonThere was widespread public fear of HIV in the 1980s when the infection was rapidly fatal and associated with sexual transmission. This is not the case with hepatitis C.
§ Mr. SkinnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will reconsider his decision not to provide a financial assistance scheme to haemophiliacs suffering from the hepatitis C virus infected through contaminated blood products during NHS treatment; and if he will make a statement. [59775]
698W
§ Mr. HuttonWe continue to hold the view that it would not be right to single out people with haemophilia infected with hepatitis C through National Health Service treatment by establishing a special payment scheme. Our general policy is that financial assistance of this kind is only paid where the NHS, or individuals working in it, have been at fault.
§ Mr. SkinnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Gedling (Mr. Coaker) of 28 July 1998, Official Report, column 179, what steps he has taken since to ensure that haemophiliacs suffering from the Hepatitis C virus contracted through infected blood products during NHS treatment will receive adequate social security benefits. [59610]
§ Mr. HuttonPeople with haemophilia who have been infected with hepatitis C through National Health Service treatment with blood products are assessed for their entitlement to assistance under the benefits system in the same way as other people. We have agreed funding for the Haemophilia Society's youth information and support project aimed at providing information to and improving the education and employment prospects of young people with haemophilia who are infected with hepatitis C.
§ Mr. SkinnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the most recent medical evidence regarding the risks of hepatitis C transmission in families(a) between partners and (b) between parent and children. [59776]
§ Mr. HuttonLimited information is available about the risk of household contact but it is generally thought to be low. Current information indicates that sexual transmission of hepatitis C occurs but that the virus is inefficiently spread in this manner. Prevalence rates for antibodies to hepatitis C of less than 5 per cent. have been found in regular sexual partners of infected individuals. A similar rate of transmission has been found among infants born to mothers with hepatitis C antibodies.
§ Mr. SkinnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many haemophilia patients(a) were infected with hepatitis C virus through contaminated blood products during NHS treatment prior to 1985, (b) await liver transplants as a result of this disease, (c) are being treated for this virus within the NHS and (d) have died as a result of liver disease to date. [59768]
§ Mr. HuttonThe Department estimates that 4,000 people with haemophilia were infected with hepatitis C through their National Health Service treatment with blood products before the introduction of viral inactivation processes in 1985. All patients found to be infected in this way are referred to a specialist for further assessment, observation and treatment as appropriate. The Haemophilia Society assesses that 90 patients may have died. The United Kingdom Transplant Support Service Authority's list of people awaiting liver transplants includes 26 whose primary liver disease is post hepatitis C cirrhosis. While not identified separately on this database, 6 or 7 are believed to have haemophilia.
§ Mr. SkinnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the costs of providing a hardship fund for haemophiliacs suffering from hepatitis C infected through contaminated blood products during NHS 699W treatment; and what the cost is of the scheme already operating for haemophiliacs suffering from the HIV virus infected in the same way. [59774]
§ Mr. HuttonApproximately £90 million has been paid since 1988 in special payments to people with haemophilia who were infected with HIV through National Health Service treatment with blood or blood products. We estimate that a comparable scheme for hepatitis C infection would cost in the region of £220 million.