Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Four fetuses and three premature babies died at Nasser Medical Complex due to malnutrition
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One person was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the town of Burj Qalawieh, south Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out major bombings in the Gaza Strip, the most violent since October 7
Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree: The missile force carried out a major operation using the Palestine 2 ballistic hypersonic missile, hitting several targets in occupied Yafa.
Sirens sound in large areas of occupied Palestine after a missile launch from Yemen was detected

Relatives of NHS blood scandal victims urge Sunak for compensation

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 24 Jul 2023 16:05
3 Min Read

The letter is due to be sent to Downing Street with relatives and survivors calling for action on interim payments in respect of “deaths not yet recognized”.

  • x
  •  Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during a joint press conference with France's President at the end of the French-British summit, at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, on March 10, 2023. (AFP)
    UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during a joint press conference with France's President at the end of the French-British summit, at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, on March 10, 2023. (AFP)

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is due to receive a letter from the relatives of the infected blood scandal of the UK's National Health Service (NHS) calling for immediate action to for full compensation payments.

The letter is due to be sent to Downing Street with relatives and survivors calling for action on interim payments in respect of “deaths not yet recognized”. Sunak is being reminded in the letter of his word to ensure the interim compensation is paid without delay during his time running to win and become the Conservative Party leader last year.

“Survivors and their families need to have certainty now…,” the letter states.

Among those who will submit the letter is Jason Evans whose father Jonathan died at the age of 31 after being infected with hepatitis C and HIV. Evans is now 33 and says that having to go through writing the letter “totally compounds the trauma and grief” of the survivors and grieving families.

“We need action to happen now because people are dying, not just people infected but the bereaved families as well,” he noted, adding that 380 children were infected with HIV, many of whom died in childhood, and their parents are now in their 80s.

“We know of people who have died only recently. People are dying without seeing any acknowledgment,” he stated, arguing that there was never transparency which makes it all the more scandalous. 

Related News

UK NHS doctor grieves nephew slain at Gaza food distribution point

England’s hospitals may cut 100,000+ jobs amid cost-cutting directives

Evans stressed that the relatives are just looking for clear answers rather than the government's claim that 'we are working at pace’.”

Read next: Exodus of experience: Senior doctors leaving NHS for pastures new

Postponing progress

Thousands of NHS patients with hemophilia and blood disorders alike were infected with HIV and hepatitis C in the 1970s and 1980s as a result of contaminated blood products leaving almost 2,400 killed. 

An inquiry was opened in 2017, which described the scandal as the worst treatment disaster in NHS history. Inquiry chairman Sir Brian Langstaff at first recommended that victims themselves or their bereaved partners can receive an interim payment of around £100,000 ($128,418).

As for the letter, it emphasizes that the government’s delay is denying victims and families "any sense of tangible progress,” adding, “These payments are not just about compensation, they symbolize acknowledgement and they represent initial recognition of each life lost". 

Sunak, alongside Chancellor and former health secretary Jeremy Hunt, are expected to hand over proof to the Infected Blood Inquiry this month, as Commons Leader and former paymaster general Penny Mordaunt is also due to appear on July 24, and current Paymaster General Jeremy Quin is due the following day.

Read more: Children's wait for medical care in the UK grows alarmingly: NHS

This is not the first NHS scandal. In March of last year, it was discovered that 300 babies were left dead or brain damaged as a result of inadequate care by the NHS. Mothers were denied cesarean sections and forced to have traumatic births because of an alleged obsession with meeting "normal" birth targets.

  • NHS
  • Rishi Sunak
  • National Health Service
  • United Kingdom

Most Read

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Israeli police and rescue teams respond at the scene of a shooting attack where several people killed and injured in Jerusalem, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025 (AP)

Al-Quds shooting: 7 settlers killed, several critically injured

  • Politics
  • 8 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

Pro-'Israel' far-right Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
People protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, in New York, on Friday, September 27, 2024 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' stops unfunded diplomacy ahead of UN, October 7 memorial

An Israeli Air Force fighter jet releases flares over the Gaza Strip, is seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 8, 2025 (AP)
Politics

OIC summit draft: Israeli attack on Qatar risks normalization

People shout slogans and hold Palestinian flags while protesting during the twenty-first stage of La Vuelta cycling race from Alalpardo to Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP)
Sports

Pro-Palestine protests force abrupt end to Vuelta a España finale

Damage is seen after an Israeli strike targeted a compound that hosted Hamas' political leadership in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli regime faces growing isolation over Qatar strike: Reports

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS