THE Government’s decision to ignore the recommendations of an independent report into the bad blood scandal has been condemned as ‘shameful’.

Grappenhall resident Mike Kenwright was one of thousands of people infected with hepatitis C through bad blood transfusions who last week heard they would not receive the compensation suggested by the report.

“The response has completely failed to look at the hardships faced by the victims of infection from hepatitis C and those exposed to CJD,” said Mr Kenwright, of Chester Road.

“All week we have seen and read about MPs claiming thousands of pounds in expenses while the haemophilia community of the UK continue to live and die in pain and poverty as a result of what the NHS did to us while telling us the treatment was safe.”

Earlier this year Lord Archer published his report into the Government practice of buying blood from America in the 1970s and 1980s to treat haemophiliacs.

Much of the blood came from prisoners and drug users who were paid for their contributions, and led to thousands of people being infected with HIV and hepatitis.

Lord Archer’s report attacked the Government for putting profit before health and recommended those infected should be properly compensated.

The Government’s response last week, however, angered haemophiliacs by announcing that only those infected with HIV would receive increased compensation immediately.

Payments to those with hepatitis C will be reviewed in five years.

Health minister Dawn Primarolo announced in her response that £100,000 a year would go to the Haemophilia Society for the next five years, and the Haemophilia Alliance would be invited to meet with the Government twice yearly. The society pledged its battle would go on.