THE Government has been slammed for ignoring the recommendations of an independent investigation into a bad blood scandal.

It left thousands of people, including a Bolton man and his brother, with debilitating or fatal conditions.

Earlier this year, the Archer Inquiry, which looked at the distribution of contaminated blood products in the 1970s and 80s, attacked the Government for putting profit before health.

The bad blood scandal ruined lives, leaving victims with infections such as HIV and hepatitis.

It was labelled an “horrific human tragedy” by Lord Archer, who chaired the inquiry.

He suggested that Whitehall considers awarding more compensation to victims, forms a haemophilia committee and apologises to those affected by the scandal.

Now the Government has given its official response but stopped short of all the measures recommended by Lord Archer.

Ministers promised to increase payments to individuals, but only those with HIV, provide extra funding for the Haemophilia Society and review financial help for people with hepatitis C in five years time.

Dawn Primarolo, minister for public health, said: “I would like to offer my deepest sympathy to all those who suffered in this tragic episode.

“Sadly, it was not possible to effectively test for these viruses in the 1970s and early 80s and we deeply regret that these events occurred following NHS treatment.”

But campaigners fighting for reform and compensation, including haemophiliac David Fielding, from Farnworth, who needed a liver transplant after contracting hepatitis B and C, are furious.

His brother, Brian, also an haemophiliac, was infected with HIV in 1985 and died five years later, aged 46.

Mr Fielding, aged 53, of Darley Avenue, has accused the health system of murder and says he is angry and upset at the Government’s response.

He said: “I am just devastated, I feel extremely let down and angry. The Government has a total lack of decency and compassion towards a group who were infected with fatal diseases that will kill us.

“I feel the two years of Lord Archer and his team’s hard work and commitment has been thrown back in their faces.

“The Government has ignored a lot of the recommendations. I need financial security for my family. This an insult to my brother and me and all the others whose lives have been ruined.

“The campaign will carry on until a government does address and right this terrible wrong.”

A statement from the Archer Inquiry said: “The Government response to the Archer Report is a faltering step that only compounds the anguish of the afflicted and bereaved.

“It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that humanitarian impulses have come a bad second to Treasury constraints.”