UK Government Announces £210,000 Interim Payments for Victims of Infected Blood Scandal Following Seven-Year Inquiry

Victims of the contaminated blood scandal will receive an interim compensation payment of £210,000 starting this summer. This announcement comes on the heels of a report released on Monday, concluding a seven-year investigation into the incident, which affected over 30,000 individuals in the 1970s and 1980s.

Political correspondent @alixculbertson

Wednesday, 22nd of May, 2024 at

The government has announced that individuals affected by the contaminated blood scandal will receive an initial compensation payment of £210,000 starting this summer.

Cabinet minister John Glen informed parliament that individuals affected by contaminated blood will receive their first payment within 90 days, beginning in the summer.

He further stated that the estates of individuals who pass away from the infection before the disbursements are made will receive the payments.

Mr. Glen stated, "The prime minister emphasized yesterday that the budget is unrestricted. Wherever spending is necessary, we will allocate funds accordingly."

"We are committed to reducing delays and will implement Sir Brian Langstaff's recommendations concerning speed, efficiency, and the simplification of processes."

The minister refrained from disclosing the price tag of the compensation plan, though ex-justice secretary Robert Buckland mentioned that it might exceed £10 billion.

Mr. Glen made his statement the day following the release of a report on the scandal, which concluded after seven years of investigation.

In the 1970s and 1980s, contaminated blood products led to over 30,000 British citizens contracting HIV and Hepatitis C. The tragedy resulted in the deaths of more than 3,000 individuals.

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Mr. Glen made the following announcement

• A new independent organization, the Infected Blood Compensation Authority, has been set up to oversee the distribution of compensation. Sir Robert Francis KC has been appointed as the temporary chair.

Individuals who have contracted HIV or Hepatitis C through tainted NHS blood, blood products, or tissue, or those who have developed a chronic infection due to Hepatitis B contaminated blood, are entitled to compensation.

• In cases where an eligible individual has passed away, the compensation will be directed to their estate.

• Once a victim is enrolled in the program, their impacted partners, parents, siblings, children, friends, and relatives who served as their caregivers are eligible to make claims independently.

Individuals already enrolled in an existing infected blood support program will automatically qualify for compensation, reducing the burden of having to demonstrate their eligibility.

• Five distinct categories of compensation will be established: an injury impact award, a social impact award (to recognize the stigma or social isolation resulting from infection), an autonomy award (for interference with family/private life), a care award (to address past and future care requirements), and a financial loss award (to cover past and future economic damages due to the infection).

• Payment can be provided as a single total amount or in regular installments

• Relatives of the deceased will receive a one-time payment

• All payments will not be subject to income, capital gains, or inheritance taxes.

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• Payments will be excluded from evaluations for means-tested benefits

• Every recipient has the right to contest their awarded

• The last round of payments is scheduled to commence prior to the year's conclusion

• Current payments under the existing infected blood support scheme will remain unchanged until March 31, 2025, and will not affect the amounts received from new compensation.

Starting April 1, 2025, all payments from support programs will be included in the total compensation calculation.

• Everyone will receive at least as much in compensation as they would have in support payments.

Sir Brian Langstaff, who leads the inquiry, determined that the scandal was no mere mishap, attributing the failures to "consecutive governments, the NHS, and blood services."

He stated that the actions of various governments and the NHS worsened the suffering of the victims.

Sir Brian reported that employees at the Department of Health intentionally destroyed certain documents, which he identified as part of a widespread cover-up and clear deception.

"He emphasized that much of it could have been prevented, though not all. He stated it definitely should have been avoided," he noted, mentioning that "the extent of the occurrence is terrifying" for the victims and their families.

Survivors and their relatives expressed relief at the publication of the report after years of their claims being dismissed.

Rishi Sunak issued a complete and unreserved apology to the victims after the report was released, describing it as a "day of disgrace for the British government."

He assured that victims and those impacted would receive compensation, stating, "We will cover whatever expenses are necessary to implement this plan."

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