Fresh anger over contaminated blood scandal after Government accused ignoring victim's wishes
Former minister Diana Johnson says letting Department of Health be involved int he inquiry is like 'asking South Yorkshire Police to lead an inquiry into the Hillsborough disaster'
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Your support makes all the difference.The Government has “run roughshod” over the wishes of the victims of the contaminated blood scandal by letting the Department of Health (DoH) be involved in the inquiry, a Labour MP has claimed.
Former minister Diana Johnson compared to decision to allow the department to be involved in the probe to "asking South Yorkshire Police to lead an inquiry into the Hillsborough disaster".
Instead, she said the House of Commons should lead a fully independent inquiry.
Theresa May announced an investigation into how thousands of haemophiliacs and other patients were given blood products infected with hepatitis C and HIV during the 1970s and 1980s. It left around 2,400 people dead.
The exchange came after campaigners and family members boycotted a meeting with DoH officials amid concerns over the scope of the inquiry.
But Health Minister Jackie Doyle-Price said the Government was "very much in listening mode" and insisted that no decisions had been made so far on who would lead the probe.
Ms Johnson, who has campaigned on the issue for a number of years, said many involved were "dismayed" that the DoH would lead on the establishment of the inquiry and called for another government department to take the lead.
She said the DoH was "an implicated party at the heart of so much that has gone wrong over the past 45 years", adding it "must have no role in how this inquiry is established."
She added: "It is akin, in my view, to asking South Yorkshire Police to lead an inquiry into the Hillsborough disaster and I regret that the Government has not been able to understand that by putting the Government in charge at this time immediately undermines their excellent decision to call a public inquiry last week."
Her concern was echoed by shadow public health minister Sharon Hodgson, who said victims had "deeply held suspicions" about the DoH.
She said: "A week ago the House united in agreement to finally facilitate justice for those tragically affected by this scandal but in recent days, as we've heard, events have shown ministers to renege on last week's promises and have run roughshod over the affected community."
Ms Hodgson said efforts to consult the community were "simply warm words" and said speed of the inquiry must not jeopardise efforts to seek justice.
Additional reporting by Press Association
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