2016
29th Aug – Following a meeting of the patient interest representative from the now disbanded Financial Review Group, Bill Wright, Haemophilia Scotland Chair, writes to Shona Robison MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport, raising issues of concern. These include alluding to a concern that Stage 1 payments to widows were not to be increased in line with those for infected people as well as the long term security of the Scottish scheme. Concerns about patient engagement were also raised.
28th Sep – Shona Robison MSP replied to Bill Wright. She offered some reassurance about the future security of the new arrangements.
27 Oct – Bill Wright replied to Shona Robison on behalf of Haemophilia Scotland raising the case of Stage 1 widows in more detail. He also continued to raise concerns about patient engagement.
17 Nov – Shona Robison replied to Bill Wright. Her letter did not alter the position of the Scottish Government in relation to the Stage 1 widows.
19 Dec – National Services Scotland held a stakeholder engagement meeting to present the progress they had made towards the establishment of a Scottish scheme.
20 Dec – Richard Lyle MSP raised the budget for providing financial support payments with the Cabinet Secretary at the Health and Sport Committee.
Following exchanges in the media over the Christmas break a face to face meeting was arranged for early in 2017.
2017
12 Jan – The meeting between Haemophilia Scotland and Shona Robison MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport concluded with assurances that the NSS Advisory Group would not be conducting the outstanding policy work. This would be undertaken by the Scottish Government with patient engagement. Shona Robison MSP undertook to write to Haemophilia Scotland giving more details of the timetable for that work.
21 Feb – The Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme 2017 was published although it will not come into force until the 1st of April.
28 Feb – Shona Robison wrote to to Bill Wright to give details of the upcoming clinical review of eligibility criteria under Professor David Goldberg and to bring forward a proposal for those wishing to “cash out” their entitlement to on-going support.
16 Mar – Bill Wright replied to Shona Robison raising the prospect of naming the new scheme after Frank Maguire and welcoming the appointment of Prof David Goldberg to conduct the clinical review. He also raised other outstanding issues of payments to Stage 1 widows, the scope of the discretionary fund, qualification for the Scottish scheme, and protecting payments from inflation.
31 Mar – Shona Robison replied to Bill Wright offered assurances that the Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme will continue to evolve and adapt. She stressed that the scheme is sill and an early, transitional phase.
NB. This record is incomplete between March 2017 and April 2018
2018
18th April – Written Question from Alison Johnstone MSP about costs of extending payments to widow(er)s and estates and on the percentages eligible for support answered.
10th May – Written Question from Rhonda Grant MSP about support for benefits entitlement for those affected and infected by contaminated blood and blood products answered.
19th Jun – Written Question from Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP about the consultation of the Scottish Government on the terms of reference of the Infected Blood Inquiry answered.
2nd Aug – Written Question from Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP on death rates of Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme beneficiaries answered.
20th Sept – Written Question from Annie Wells MSP on the implementation of the Clinical Review of the Impacts of Hepatitis C: Short Life Working Group Report for the Scottish Government answered.
6th Nov – Written Questions from David Stewart MSP on the timetable for implementing the Clinical Review of the Impacts of Hepatitis C: Short Life Working Group Report for the Scottish Government and when payments would be made answered.
14th Nov – Written Question from Elaine Smith MSP about factors being taken into account in setting new support payment levels answered.
15th Nov – Written Question from Annie Wells MSP about the Scottish Government becoming a Core Participant in the Infected Blood Inquiry answered.
15th Nov – Johann Lamont MSP asked a question at First Ministers Questions on changes to the Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme.
21st Nov – Written Question from Angus MacDonald MSP on funding for the Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme answered.
23rd Nov – Written Question from Bob Dorris about chronic support payments from the SIBSS answered giving the new payment levels.
2019
29th May – Written Question from Annie Wells MSP on parity with higher English payments answered.
21st Jun – Written Question from Neil Findlay MSP on Social Care and Counselling for those infected and affected by contaminated blood and blood products answers.