Nearly £100 million in compensation has been paid to victims of
the Infected Blood Scandal so far, alongside over £1.2 billion in
interim payments, as the government publishes its final response to the
Infected Blood Inquiry's May 2024 report – highlighting progress
delivering the Inquiry's twelve recommendations.
Recognising the unspeakable suffering of victims, the government
accepts all twelve of the Inquiry's recommendations, with some
accepted in full, and others accepted in principle. There are no
recommendations that the government has not accepted.
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office, MP, said:
Today is an important milestone, nearly one year on from the
publication of the Inquiry's report.
The victims of this scandal have suffered unspeakably. We remain
fully committed to cooperating with the Inquiry, are acting on
its twelve recommendations, and are grateful for its work to
date.
We have paid nearly £100 million in compensation so far, and have
set aside £11.8 billion to deliver what is one of the most
comprehensive compensation schemes in modern history.
The government is delivering Recommendation 1, to set up a
compensation scheme. Compensation is paid through the Infected
Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA), an independent organisation
that was set up on the Inquiry's recommendation in its Second
Interim Report. IBCA has paid out £96.6 million in compensation
so far to victims of the Infected Blood Scandal, building on over
£1.2 billion already paid out by the government in interim
payments.
Government is delivering Recommendation 10, to empower the voices
of infected blood patients, by paying £500,000 to patient
advocacy charities. These funds will be paid to specific
charities that have been recommended by the Inquiry, and meetings
are underway to agree on awards.
Government is also delivering Recommendation 6, to monitor
patients with liver damage, by ensuring that all patients with
liver damage will have their care overseen by a medical
consultant. Patients with a Hepatitis C diagnosis will receive
greater follow-up and monitoring, and NHS England will also be
proactively identifying patients with bleeding disorders to
ensure they receive appropriate testing, treatment and ongoing
monitoring.
Today, the Government is also announcing that Sir Robert Francis
KC, Interim Chair of the Infected Blood Compensation Authority,
will remain in his role for another 18 months. The decision to
extend his term was taken to provide continuity for the
organisation and the infected blood community, and ensure
compensation continues to be delivered without delay.
The Inquiry has set out its intention to publish a further report
on compensation, and the Government remains committed to
cooperating with the Inquiry.
Commenting on his extension, Sir Robert Francis KC said:
I am honoured to continue serving as Interim Chair of the
Infected Blood Compensation Authority.
My priority remains to ensure that we pay compensation to those
impacted by the scandal as quickly as possible, while maintaining
transparency and compassion throughout our work.
