Victims of the infected blood scandal are due to receive their
first compensation payments this week, in a historical milestone
reached by the government.
Ten people have been offered compensation totalling over £13
million. The first few people have accepted their offers and are
due to receive payment in the coming days. These individuals,
whose identities are being kept private, were infected with
illnesses as a result of receiving infected blood and infected
blood products.
25 more people have recently been invited to make their claim for
compensation and once doing so, will also receive offers. This
follows commitments to deliver compensation after allocating
£11.8bn in the Budget.
Compensation is being delivered by the Infected Blood
Compensation Authority, which the government established as an
independent organisation in May this year on recommendation from
the Infected Blood Inquiry. IBCA is led by interim chair Sir
Robert Francis KC, who contributed to the Infected Blood
Inquiry.
IBCA continues to work with the infected blood community to
improve and grow the compensation service. It is aiming to open
up the compensation service wider in the New Year.
The government designed a comprehensive, government-funded
compensation scheme for infected and affected victims of infected
blood earlier this year. The UK-wide scheme is based on
recommendations from the Infected Blood Inquiry, Sir Robert
Francis KC, and a group of independent legal, healthcare and
financial experts.
The compensation scheme was updated in August following further
recommendations from Sir Robert Francis, based on his engagement
with the community.
Minister for the Cabinet Office, , said:
“This government promised to deliver action on infected blood
compensation, and today is a vital step towards delivering
justice for people who have waited far too long for compensation.
“No amount of compensation can fully address the suffering as a
result of this scandal, but I hope this shows that we are doing
everything possible to deliver significant compensation to people
infected and affected. That is why this government set aside
£11.8 billion for this scheme in the Budget.
“After so many years of injustice, I hope that this brings some
reassurance to a community who have suffered immeasurably that
action is being taken.”
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