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Victims of the contaminated blood scandal should be paid compensation “without delay,” the chair of an inquiry into the scandal has demanded.

Sir Brian Langstaff, chair of the Infected Blood Inquiry, recommended victims and bereaved partners receive no less than £100,000 – while former UK Health Secretaries Andy Burnham, Jeremy Hunt and Matt Hancock joined him in calling for immediate payments.

In a landmark report published in March, Sir Robert Francis QC was asked to make recommendations for compensation to those affected by the scandal.

Among those recommendations was that interim payments, of a minimum of £100,000, should be arranged for those exposed to infected blood during the 1970s and 1980s – calling for the payments to be made available as soon as possible.

The scandal affected up to 30,000 people in the 1970s and 1980s, and has been referred to as ‘the worst treatment disaster in NHS history’. Around 3,000 people died as a result.

About 5,000 people with haemophilia and other bleeding disorders are believed to have been infected with the HIV and hepatitis viruses. People who had blood transfusions were also exposed to the contaminated blood.

Kirk Ellis, from Penyrheol, is one of those affected.

Mr Ellis was born with haemophilia – a condition which affects the body’s ability to create blood clots; which is needed to help stop bleeding.

He received contaminated blood in 1983, when he was just 18 months old – contracting Hepatitis-C in the process – a virus which has caused Mr Ellis to suffer cirrhosis of the liver.

Despite welcoming the recommendations made by Sir Brian, Mr Ellis told Caerphilly Observer: “I am still very anxious that Sir Robert Francis made a recommendation on interim payments and nothing has happened.

“Fifty victims have died in that time. It’s sickening that government think that is OK.”

He added: “I am disappointed that parents who lost children and children who lost parents still have to wait for any financial recognition.”

Caerphilly’s Labour MP, Wayne David, said: “It is a disgrace that the Tory Government has been so slow to provide any compensation to those affected by the infected blood scandal.

“The Paymaster General received Sir Robert’s report on compensation four months ago, yet we are still no closer to receiving an outline of the compensation framework or any interim payments. 

“Kirk deserves compensation for the appalling way he has been treated and he should have an interim payment now.”

A UK Government spokesperson thanked Sir Brian for his report and said: “We recognise how important this will be for people infected and affected across the UK, and can confirm that the Government will consider Sir Brian’s report and the recommendations of Sir Robert Francis QC with the utmost urgency, and will respond as soon as possible.

“A copy of the report will be laid in the House once Parliament reconvenes.”

Parliament is not due to resume until September 5.