Chloe Smith MP represents victims of the NHS Contaminated Blood scandal to learn more about new treatments for Hepatitis C

Member of Parliament for Norwich North, Chloe Smith, has been a long-standing campaigner on the Contaminated Blood scandal of the 1970s and 1980s. Chloe has worked closely with two of her constituents since becoming a local MP, fighting on their behalf to seek justice for the immense suffering they have faced since becoming infected with Hepatitis C.

This week in Westminster, she represented them once again at a briefing looking at developments in the treatment of Hepatitis C, and the availability of new drugs on the NHS.

At the briefing, Chloe heard from Professor Mark Thursz from Imperial College and Charles Gore, Chief Executive of the Hepatitis C Trust. She also heard about specialised commissioning from NHS England.

Chloe understands that the National Institute for Clinical Excellence has endorsed the use of Sovaldi (a new treatment).  Before it is made available, the NHS has asked for more time to be able to increase clinical capacity and adapt services to manage demand – because they must treat everyone who has the disease, not just the small group who were infected by the scandal, which they estimate to be 70,000 known sufferers plus a possible 80,000 who may not be aware.  As the very sickest (those with decompensated cirrhosis) have already been treated, it is expected to result in the remaining sickest (those with compensated cirrhosis) being able to access the drugs by April or May this year, and the drugs being available to others in the remainder of 2015.

Chloe will take further action by writing a Parliamentary Question to Jane Ellison MP, the Minister for Public Health, to seek her assurances that everything is being done to expedite the treatment’s availability.

Following the event, Chloe commented:

“My constituents tell me that they are ill and exhausted and do not want to be constantly fighting and campaigning; they want access to cutting edge treatments to fight this terrible disease.

“I am encouraged to learn that there are advances in treatments and I will continue to support every effort to see these made available on the NHS as soon as possible.”