Victims of the infected blood scandal are dying at a rate of two a week while waiting for compensation.
Campaigners are furious that payouts agreed by the Government are taking too long to reach those affected by the biggest scandal in the history of the NHS.
More than 30,000 patients were infected with HIV and hepatitis after being given contaminated blood products in the 1970s and 1980s, resulting in more than 3,000 deaths.
In May last year, a public inquiry found that the authorities had covered up the scale of the scandal.
In total, £11.8 billion was set aside by the Government to compensate victims and others affected, such as parents, children and siblings.
But the payouts are taking so long to process that many fear they could be dead before they see a penny, including Tony Summers, 89.
His son Paul died at 44 after contracting HIV and hepatitis C from blood products used to treat his haemophilia.
Mr Summers, who was told he may not receive compensation until 2029, says: ‘I’ll be 93 – you begin to have doubts.
Campaigners are furious that payouts agreed by the Government are taking too long to reach those affected by the biggest scandal in the history of the NHS
Labour MP Clive Efford (pictured) said the situation had become ‘an embarrassing issue for the Government’
People are still dying from illnesses. Parents are dying. It feels as though there’s a policy [of] “If we hang on long enough, we won’t have to pay”.’
Lynne Kelly, chairman of Haemophilia Wales, said people wanted closure after campaigning for more than four decades.
‘People are dying two a week at the moment, so we’re in a difficult position. Bit by bit, fewer people will be eligible for compensation and less money will be paid.’
Labour MP Clive Efford, chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Haemophilia and Contaminated Blood, said the situation had become ‘an embarrassing issue for the Government’.
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