Last week, Ricahrd was pleased to be able to join his constituent, Chris Smith, when he was part of a group which delivered a letter to 10 Downing Street calling on the Government to implement the compensation recommendations of the infected blood inquiry, which were published in April - Second Interim Report published | Infected Blood Inquiry. Richard spoke to BBC Look East after the letter was delivered to Number 10, which can be watched at https://youtu.be/sFTlDxfBuWA.
The Infected Blood Inquiry has made a number of further recommendations to the Government about how to compensate those who received infected blood products and those who have lost loved ones as a result of the blood products.
Speaking after the delivery of the letter, Richard Fuller MP said:
It has now been thirteen years since I first spoke in Parliament on behalf of those who received infected blood products or who lost loved ones. The Government has taken a number of steps not least of which was setting up the Inquiry and it has already delivered some of the recommendations in terms of interim compensation. However, the Second Interim Report was published back in April.
The Government has accepted that wrongs were done to those infected and affected. These are complex issues but now is the time to deliver on the recommendations made in the report. This was an appalling tragedy that simply should never have happened and it is time to deliver this overdue justice for the victims and their families.
The consequences of this scandal are deeper and more painful than mere financial compensation can erase, but it is vital that - on this government’s watch - we finally start that process.
The full report on BBC Look East, including an interview with Richard, can be seen here: https://youtu.be/-KdfVZIp0Cg