Blood victims 'fear they'll die without justice'

PEOPLE given infected blood in one of the NHS's worst treatment scandals are scared they will not live to see compensation, campaigners say.

- By Ella Pickover

It comes as the Infected Blood Inquiry hearings reopen on Wednesday and Thursday to examine the “timeliness and adequacy” of the Government's payout response.

More than 30,000 people in the UK were infected with HIV and hepatitis C from contaminated blood and blood products between the 1970s and early 1990s.

Some 3,000 died, and survivors have lifelong health implications.

The hearings will include evidence from groups representing people both infected and affected by the scandal.

Gary Webster, 60, who was infected as a Hampshire schoolboy, said he felt things had gone “downhill” since the probe published its main report last May.