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Guernsey's health bosses say they don't know if any compensation has yet been paid to local victims of the infected blood scandal
The Committee for Health & Social Care has said it "has currently not seen any documentation that confirms whether or not, or when, compensation might have been paid to these individuals by the States of Guernsey".
HSC says it is trying to find out though.
"The Committee is actively seeking further information, including from outside Health & Social Care, to understand what, if any, compensation has been paid and would invite anyone with information or evidence to come forward."
This situation has come to light through the Rule 14 question mechanism.
Deputy Lester Queripel posed a number of written questions to HSC after being left unsatisfied by previous answers to questions he had submitted on the same topic.
In May of this year, he asked oral questions during a States Meeting.
He then followed that up with Rule 14 written questions in June, and more in August.
The main thrust of all of these questions has been to find out what support and financial compensation has been afforded to those people affected by the infected blood scandal which emanated from the UK during the 1970s and 80s.
Known victims of the scandal are able to claim compensation through a scheme announced by the UK Government earlier this year. At the time it was launched, HSC said that "Officers will continue to engage with UK Government officials regarding the establishment of the compensation scheme and how it might extend to Bailiwick residents".
Pictured (l-r): Deputy Lester Queripel and Deputy Al Brouard, HSC President.
Deputy Queripel's most recent written questions to HSC included the assertion that one Guernsey resident who was a victim of the UK infected blood scandal, had already received compensation from the Guernsey government.
HSC said it wasn't aware of this and that it hasn't seen any documentation to confirm that situation.
It also said that it does not know if any other victims have been compensated.
"The Committee is supporting anyone who has come forward to date who may be eligible for compensation from the UK government. Furthermore, the Committee would urge anyone who has any concerns to contact the Orchard Centre to discuss these further," it said.
HSC has always said there were between five and 10 people from the Bailiwick affected by the scandal. It has also always said it cannot be more specific than that because of efforts to protect their personal confidentiality.
Deputy Queripel has tried to find out the exact number of patients affected in his latest set of questions but HSC is still resolute that it won't disclose the specific number.
"Where they involve few patients, deaths or incidences of disease, it is standard best-practice to report these data as 'fewer than ten' or 'fewer than five' as appropriate.
"This approach to safeguarding patient confidentiality is not unique to Guernsey," wrote HSC.
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