Hepatitis compensation criticised

Mr Longstaff contracted hepatitis C through infected blood transfusions

The family of a haemophiliac who contracted HIV and hepatitis C through infected blood has hit out at the size of a compensation payment.

Health Secretary John Reid announced on Friday that patients infected with hepatitis C after being given blood and blood products by the NHS will receive payments of up to £45,000.

Peter Longstaff, 45, from Jesmond, Newcastle, contracted a number of infections from infected blood transfusions.

His wife Carol said the compensation is not good enough.

She said: "My reaction is that the payment the government is offering is a pittance.

Lump sum

"When you look at the amount of suffering that people have experienced it should be a far greater payment."

The Department of Health said the scheme would start operating from April with payments following soon afterwards.

Under the deal, those who were alive on 29 August 2003 and whose hepatitis C infection was found to be caused by NHS treatment with blood products before September 1991 will be eligible for payments.

People infected with hepatitis C will receive an initial lump sum of £20,000 and those who develop more advance stages of the illness will get a further £25,000.