Debate contribution: Infected Blood Inquiry

Debate contribution by Mr Robin Swann on 21 May 2024.

MLA: Mr Robin Swann
Party at the time: Ulster Unionist Party
Date: 21 May 2024
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Question for Urgent Oral Answer
Heading: Infected Blood Inquiry
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 4491749

Text

I thank the Chair for her comments. I spoke with Nigel yesterday regarding the event. Simon's voice was used in some of the video evidence that was given to the inquiry and, yesterday, when the findings of the report were being presented. Northern Ireland has a number of advocates and champions for that group, but those two brothers have borne a heavy workload, along with many others, such as Conan McIlwrath and Paul from Londonderry, who have undertaken work on behalf of the group. Many, many others were involved, but I do not want to leave anyone out, so I will not name anyone else. We were not given sight of the announcement on payments that was made today in Westminster. The representatives and I met Minister Glen, on 3 May this year, regarding what the compensation package might look like. He did not give us any detail at that stage, so we were listening to the statement as he made it today. I hope that I will have received it in writing by the time I return from responding to this question for urgent oral answer. I can reassure the Chair that we were able to process the previous payment of £100,000 through the Business Services Organisation (BSO), because there is a payment process there. I have already explored the situation. Once I have received that money from Westminster, we can, by direction, transfer it to BSO. We will make those payments in the same time frame as the rest of the UK. When we met Minister Glen, at the start of this month, one of the commitments made was that there would be no postcode differential in how those who had been infected and affected would be treated or supported through the compensation package, because we believe — I believe — that they have already been failed by the state. To delay that because of where someone lives would be a further failure.
The Member makes a valid point about those other inquiries and their recommendations. As I said in my answer to Mrs Dodds, there is a need for an overarching quality framework. I think that the Committee has scheduled — or it may have already received — a presentation on what that looks like. The Member will get the opportunity then to have a look at how we will bring all the recommendations together, rather than looking at individual recommendations from individual inquiries. Unfortunately, there is a commonality across many of the recommendations, so it makes sense that we bring those forward in a single set of actions.
The Member makes a valid point. I wish to use this question for urgent oral answer to urge people who think that they have been infected or affected to come forward to their GP or look for the additional support that is out there. The payments will be made to those who are already on our schemes. It is important that those who feel that they have been infected or affected also take the step of making themselves known to their GPs and coming forward through the health service.
As part of the support that has been provided by the Belfast Trust, through the specific contaminated blood unit, that has been asked about and explored. If there is a further need, I am open to it. I understand that that support is available currently. Given his comments, I will follow up with the Member on whether it needs to be expanded or looked at again.
I thank the Member for her point. Looking at a number of the inquiries that we have had, I think that that culture needs to be challenged. I refer to Sir Brian's comments yesterday. It was a very powerful experience to hear him go through his rationale and reasons and, especially, to hear him identify the people who have been failed by the system. He also said what Governments need to do, not just the Westminster Government but our Government in Northern Ireland. He talked about a duty of candour and how Governments should take on that duty of candour in how they address their culture. All the devolved Administrations and Westminster should look at that as we work our way through these recommendations. I do not say this lightly: we must make sure that we can provide reassurance to anyone who looks to the Government or the health service in Northern Ireland. Those people should be able to trust and believe in the advice, guidance and support that they are given.
Anyone who listened to Sir Brian's comments yesterday about where the failings were will know that the British Government did not act quickly enough on the heat treatment of blood products and did not pool plasma donations, rather than having a wider complement. I took from his report yesterday that there is a belief now that the supply of blood for our Blood Transfusion Service here in Northern Ireland is safe, particularly given the investment that we have made in it. I hope that no one takes it away from this that, in receiving a blood transfusion in Northern Ireland or having an operation, those risks remain. We have put quality standards in place for the treatment of blood that is donated prior to it being given in donations or transfusions to those who need it.
Again, I thank the Member. As I said, we had no notification that the statement was being made; rightly, the Minister wanted the families to be the first to hear it. I understand that there is an early action for an interim payment of £210,000 to those who were infected with HIV and/or hepatitis C and are currently registered with the financial support schemes. The new compensation scheme that was recommended by Sir Brian in his second report will award compensation across five heads of loss: an injury impact award; a social impact award; an autonomy award; a care award; and a financial loss award. I am not aware of the exact details of delivery or whether there will be a right of appeal, but, as soon as I am, I will make sure that details are circulated to all Members.
I do not have that detail.

1,042 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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