A NORTH-EAST MP has endorsed a plan to compensate haemophiliacs who contracted hepatitis C from NHS blood products.

Bill Etherington, the MP for Sunderland North, is supporting the plan by the Haemophilia Society, which would provide financial assistance to the 95 per cent of haemophiliacs who contracted the condition between 1969 and 1985.

If introduced by the Government, it would help 2,829 people, recognising lost earnings, problems obtaining insurance, pensions and mortgages, and their suffering.

The scheme also makes provision to compensate the relatives of those who have died after receiving contaminated blood.

Mr Etherington said: "The infection of 95 per cent of people with haemophilia with blood contaminated with hepatitis C was a terrible tragedy, perhaps one without parallel in the history of the NHS.

"I am calling on the Government to follow the example of other countries such as Ireland and Canada and set up a financial assistance scheme to help these people who have suffered so much."

He welcomed the report from the Haemophilia Society.

"Over the coming weeks, I will be urging ministers to look at it very carefully indeed," he said.