Cross-party Group on Haemophilia and Infected Blood – Minutes
Date: 4.3.2026
Time: 11:30-12:00
Location: Virtual (Zoom)
Item #1 – Chair to open the meeting
Apologies:
- Darren Millar MS
- Delyth Jewell MS
- Andrew RT Davies MS
- Mick Antoniw MS
- Heledd Fychan MS
- Mark Isherwood MS
- Chair reflects on the need to ensure the group can continue to operate despite a spell since the last meeting, and reaffirms the importance of the group in bringing about justice to victims and their loved ones.
Item #2 – Annual General Meeting
Chair:
- Rhun ap Iorwerth MS is nominated by Julie Morgan MS
- This is seconded by Mark Isherwood MS via proxy
- Rhun ap Iorwerth MS is re-appointed chair of the Cross-party Group
Secretariat:
- Lynne Kelly/Haemophilia Wales is nominated by Julie Morgan MS
- This is seconded by Rhun ap Iorwerth MS and Mark Isherwood MS via proxy
- Lynne Kelly/Haemophilia Wales is reappointed secretariat of the Cross-party Group
Item #3 – Update on the campaign
- Lynne Kelly provides information on the number of people that have been compensated 2 years into the scheme’s creation – this includes only 2 people in the whole of UK being compensated as affected family members
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- Lynne describes the sense of frustration among victims on the pace of the scheme, and the feeling of deliberate attempts by the Cabinet Office to delay compensation payment
- She discusses concerns about regarding the staffing of the compensation scheme and the lack of medical training among them
- Whilst the Cabinet Office have accepted Sir Brian Langstaff’s recommendations in principle, the frequent meetings and requests for further evidence means those recommendations aren’t being accepted in practise.
- Victims and their loved ones don’t want to discuss further, they want to see action
Item #4 – Personal experience with the compensation process
- David Thomas describes his experience in not being able to upgrade the seriousness of his case with decision makers, despite ample evidence and support from medical professionals.
- He states that herpetologist reports have been ignored, and conditions have worsened over time
- David describes it as a lengthy process which has taken its toll. A final meeting with the cabinet office is scheduled in the near future, and the expectation is that their minds will remain unchanged on the seriousness of his case.
- Lynne adds that bureaucracy and lack of medical training among the service’s providers are causing harm and stress to victims
- She states there could be up to 140,00 claims on this scheme
- Lucretia describes her experience as a family member of a victim and the sheer amount of evidence that’s being requested to process a claim
- She point out that historic cases, especially where the victim has deceased, can often lead to difficulty in acquiring the evidence asked for
- There needs to be more leniency for families in such cases, rather than being pushed to the back of the queue
- Norman discusses his personal circumstances in which he compiled a dossier of his family’s case, which has served them well, but that won’t be possible for all families.
Item #5 – Setting action points
- Group agree to:
- Write to the Welsh Government for the final time this Senedd term to make the case once more
- To call for greater representation of Haemophilia Wales in discussions and ensuring the Welsh voice is heard
Item #6 – Chair to close the meeting
- Chair ends meeting by thanking all members for their contribution during the sixth Senedd, and the progress that’s been made since 2021
- The group pays tribute to the late Hefin David MS for his invaluable contribution to the group
- The meeting concludes by looking ahead to the future and the need to secure a future for the group in the seventh Senedd.
Attendee list:
Rhun ap Iorwerth MS
Julie Morgan MS
Lynne Kelly
Lucretia
Norman
David Thomas
Cai Evans
Christine Fox
Mary
Paul May
Sharon Thomas
Tom Jones
Rhys Hughes