Grant hits out at SNP over empty Hep C promises

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, who is part of Scottish Labour’s Shadow Health Team has hit out at SNP Ministers over their shocking disregard for the victims and families of the contaminated blood scandal.

Having been contacted by constituents with haemophilia who contracted Hep C in the 1970s and 1980s through contaminated NHS blood transfusions, Mrs Grant has campaigned for a number of years on her constituents’ behalf to have the victims and their families properly supported financially as well as mentally and physically.  When the Penrose Inquiry into the scandal published its report on 25 March 2015, it was largely regarded by campaigners as a whitewash and both the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, and the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Shona Robison, vowed to help those affected.  Ms Sturgeon promised that the Scottish Government would do “everything we can to deliver justice and support” to the victims of Scotland’s contaminated blood scandal while Ms Robison launched a review of financial assistance for victims.

Mrs Grant sought a meeting with the Cabinet Secretary in May of this year on behalf of one such victim.  The meeting was arranged for 4 November.  However the meeting was cancelled by the Minister’s office just six days before it was due to take place due to “other pressing diary business”.  Mrs Grant was also advised that “The Cabinet Secretary will be happy to meet once she has reviewed the report and recommendations.”

Mrs Grant said “It is disgraceful that victims of this tragedy have to wait almost six months to meet with the Ministers who made empty promises of support.  To cancel the meeting at short notice due to “other pressing diary business” is utterly disrespectful to the victims and their families but to be advised that the Cabinet Secretary has not even reviewed the report and its recommendations which was published in March is beyond appalling.

Mrs Grant continued “The victims of this tragedy and their families still have many unanswered questions and are right to seek answers from government.  They have been very shoddily treated by Ms Robison and Ms Sturgeon.  This is not good enough and I will continue to fight to ensure this SNP government fulfils the promises it made back in March to deliver justice and support for the victims and their families whose lives have been changed beyond belief through absolutely no fault of their own.”

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