After a 40-year-battle, the British Government has agreed to pay compensation to the victims of the infected blood scandal.
In the 70’s and 80’s, thousands of people contracted HIV or hepatitis C through NHS treatments.
With more, here’s our World News Editor, Kate Gregan.
Nicky Calder wasn't even ten years old when he was infected with HIV during treatment for haemophilia.
He died at the age of 25.
His mum, Rosemary, still struggles to come to terms with what happened.
"I try not to be angry and I try not to be bitter… it's very difficult."
He was one of the thousands who received contaminated blood in what's been called the biggest treatment disaster in the history of the National Health Service.
It was the result of a new treatment intended to make their lives better - instead, unwitting victims were infected with HIV and hepatitis viruses.
The new treatment - a clotting agent - was in high demand…. so supplies began to be imported from the US.
But much of the blood plasma used to make the new treatment came from donors such as prison inmates and drug-users, who sold their blood.
Infected blood.
More than 2000 people have died as a result.
Now, £100,000 (NZ$192,00) will be paid out to the surviving victims.
It comes after decades of campaigning and government denial of responsibility.
Former Prime Minister, Sir John Major, once described what happened as bad luck.
"There is no amount of compensation you can give that could actually compensate for what had happened to them. What had happened to them was incredibly bad luck."
For Rosemary - hearing Sir John's comments makes her anger at losing her son harder to suppress.
"Bad luck is when you trip over a paving stone and break your leg or something, bad luck isn't when you say to somebody, 'oh bad luck you've been given a potentially life-threatening virus', that's not bad luck. We want people to stand up and say we did wrong"
Sir John later apologised for his language.
The compensation announcement has had a mixed reception.
While survivors will now get long-overdue help and recognition, many others have already died…. and, apart from spouses – relatives of the dead won't yet qualify for compensation.
