Today I put on the record Philip’s story. A constituent whose wife I first met while doorknocking for the election. She asked me that if I made it to Parliament would I stand up for people who had been victims of the shocking infected blood scandal. I said I would.
I was moved to read Philip’s words today in the House, in a sombre debate that told many awful stories.
Between 1970 and the early 1990s NHS patients were given blood transfusions or products that were contaminated with hepatitis C or HIV. Over 3,000 people have since died, and many thousands more - like Philip - live with lifelong health conditions caused by the infected blood.
It is an absolutely shocking scandal that was covered up for far too long.
I welcome the fact that the Government has set out plans for compensation - but it must be swift. People can’t wait any longer and they have already waited far too long for some kind of acknowledgement. They will never get justice.
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