Eastleigh MP Mims Davies is to press the Government to better support people suffering serious illness from NHS contaminated blood products after meeting a constituent who is a victim.
Gary Webster from Bishopstoke has been left coping with HIV, Hepatitis C and possibly variant CJD following NHS blood products used in the 1980s to help treat his haemophilia.
Mr Webster watched a recent debate in The House of Commons about blood contamination that Mims also attended and he later met her to discuss the issue.
“Gary’s story is a very tragic one and I will be writing to the health minister Jane Ellison to ask for more concrete plans to help people who have suffered because of this scandal,” said Mims.
“During the debate, it was clear this is a major problem for thousands of people across the country and the Government really needs to do more to help those who have life limiting conditions through absolutely no fault of their own.
“I would also very much like to hear from anyone else in the Eastleigh constituency who has suffered from the use of contaminated blood products so I can raise their experiences with ministers too.
“It’s very important that this issue does not go away and that pressure continues to be applied for action to be taken.”
Mr Webster contracted Hep C, HIV and possibly variant CJD during routine treatment as a teenager. At the time, he was attending a specialist school in Alton and said that there were around 100 other students who were also haemophiliacs.
He has kept in contact over the years with many of them but he is aware there are only around 20 who are still alive as they all contracted illnesses from the blood products.