§ Mr. GodsiffTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess the benefits of providing financial assistance schemes for people who contracted hepatitis C through contaminated blood products as a result of NHS treatment. [82860]
§ Mr. HuttonWe carried out a thorough assessment in 1998 of whether it would be right to introduce a special payment scheme for people infected with hepatitis C through National Health Service treatment. We concluded that this would not be appropriate and that such patients should continue to obtain support through the benefits system in the same way as other NHS patients who have suffered non negligent harm.