A Cabinet Minister has acknowledged the lengthy wait for answers by victims of the infected blood scandal, calling it “absolutely wrong.” The issue revolves around a significant treatment disaster in the NHS, where tens of thousands of people were infected with contaminated blood or blood products between the 1970s and early 1990s. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps remarked on the protracted timeline, highlighting the government’s failure to address the problem sooner.

A public inquiry report into the scandal is due on Monday, and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is expected to announce a £10 billion compensation package. The scandal has already resulted in approximately 3,000 deaths among those infected.

The inquiry commenced in 2017 under Prime Minister Theresa May, after years of advocacy by the victims. In a notable meeting in 2014, Hunt had promised campaigner Mike Dorricott a full settlement, a commitment that appears to be coming to fruition. Dorricott, who had terminal liver cancer linked to the contaminated blood, passed away soon after.

Jeremy Hunt has noted the government will look favorably on any requests for a national memorial for the victims. The compensation plan will be financed through government borrowing. Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting stated that both current and past governments share responsibility for the tragedy, and emphasized the importance of rectifying the injustice.

As the final report is awaited, the government has taken steps to ensure justice, including amending the Victims and Prisoners Bill to establish a new body for delivering the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme.