Conservative MP Michael Mates said that financial assistance was needed because many hepatitis sufferers had been forced to give up work because of their illness. For some it's a death sentence. The Haemophilia Society says that 110 people have died since the 1980s as a result of being infected with hepatitis C through contaminated blood products. What we have asked for is for the remit of this existing fund of money to be extended. This is something which should be straightforward for the government to achieve and would command all-party support.
Blood products are now heat-treated to kill viruses before they are given to patients.
A trust fund was set up by the previous government to assist haemophiliacs who contracted HIV through contaminated blood products. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Links to other Health stories are at the foot of the page.