A WIRRAL solicitor has called for the Government to widen the number of patients who can be compensated for Hepatitis C infection through blood transfusions.

A High Court judgement last week compensated patients infected in the late '80s and early '90s, but Graham Ross, who sued the Government for people infected with HIV from blood products, is writing to the Secretary of State for Health.

Neston solicitor Mr Ross said: "Many people would not qualify under this judgement. Firstly, haemophiliacs are affected at an earlier period in time and are not covered by the facts of this judgement. Also, of course, there are those who are covered by the facts of this judgement, but are not part of it because they accepted the Government's repeated denials of liability and did not sue. Some of them may be about to be time-barred by a 10-year time limit on actions."

A web site has been set up with a form for anyone wanting further information or to join in a claim for those not covered by the judgement at www.theclaimroom.com