AN angry Hampshire woman infected with deadly hepatitis C in a contaminated blood scandal has accused David Cameron of breaking his promise to help her.

Lesley Hughes spoke out after the department of health sneaked out an announcement that no help is likely for at least another year.

The delay comes despite Mr Cameron promising – in the Commons chamber – that compensation would follow “as soon as possible” after an election victory.

Now, no decision is likely on how to allocate a “transitional” £25m fund until next year at the earliest, let alone on proper compensation.

Lesley, from New Forest, told the Daily Echo: “Cameron has gone back on his word as he promised, if re-elected, he would sort it out as a priority.

“This is yet another degrading slap in the face to all the victims who have been told the government are very sorry and will do everything to bring a final closure.”

Lesley was given 44 pints of blood in transfusions after suffering severe injuries in a horrific car crash in 1970.

Daily Echo:

Last year, she discovered the blood had infected her with the hepatitis C virus, a devastating blow she described as a “death sentence”.

Lesley is among thousands of British people infected after US pharmaceutical companies paid drug users, prisoners and prostitutes to donate blood.

In January, she and her husband Ray joined campaigners at Westminster calling for national public apology and a final compensation settlement.

Those hopes were raised in March, when Mr Cameron gave that apology and told MPs: “It is vital that we move as soon as possible to improve the way that payments are made to those infected by this blood.”

But the department of health announced that the £25m will be banked, probably until 2016-17, forcing victims and their families to wait.

It admitted they would be “frustrated”, but added: “This is an extremely complex and sensitive area and any reform plans must be carefully considered.”

Lesley said: “My response to the government statement was absolute fury."

“I never really believed that Cameron would deal with this for us as he is good with words but never sees anything through. But for others in our numbers, they are in despair.

“This has gone on for some 30 years or more and more than 2,000 people have died. How many more will die before justice is seen to be done?”

Daily Echo: David Cameron said the UK and international allies who struck the historic accord to restrict Iran's nuclear programme to non-weapon use "have no starry-eyed naivety" about the regime

Labour yesterday dragged a health minister to the Commons to protest at the “shabby” way the further delay was announced.