Victims of infected blood said they couldn't bring lawyers to meet the minister

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Jason Evans, of the Factor 8 campaign group, said the victims were invited to a meeting with Paymaster General Jeremy Quin on Tuesday - and lawyers had to attend

The victims were told it was a "private meeting" (

Image: PA)

Ministers are refusing to allow victims of the infected blood scandal to bring their lawyers to a summit to discuss compensation.

Jason Evans, of campaign group Factor 8, said the victims had been invited to a meeting with Paymaster General Jeremy Quin on Tuesday - and lawyers were due to attend.

But a few days before the meeting, "without any explanation", an email arrived warning the group that it would not be "appropriate" to bring legal representatives.

The Cabinet Office confirmed that lawyers would not be allowed to attend the meeting, insisting it was 'private' and that 'similar meetings' had taken place without lawyers present.< /p>

"It's outrageous," Mr. Evans said.

The meeting scheduled for this week is with Paymaster General Jeremy Quin - but it would not be "appropriate" for attorneys to attend (

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"I feel like they are trying to take advantage of the vulnerable, the sick and the dying by separating them from their lawyers in this way.

"We're not asking for funding, just that our lawyers be allowed in the room when we're discussing compensation with a government minister, that sounds crazy."

Thousands of NHS patients were infected with HIV or hepatitis C through contaminated blood products imported from the United States in the 1970s and 1980s.

At least 2,400 people have died in the worst therapeutic disaster in health service history.

The 4,000 surviving victims began receiving interim payments of £100,000 in October.

And although the government has accepted there is a 'moral case' for those affected to receive full compensation, Mr Quin told MPs in December he could not commit to a timetable .