Ahead of today’s national memorial service for the victims of the infected blood scandal at St Paul’s Cathedral, the Hepatitis C Trust and the Haemophilia Society are calling on the Government to speed up compensation payments.
Today’s memorial is a crucial moment to recognise and reflect on the scandal and the impact it had on an estimated 30,000 people.[i] Over 3000 people[ii] with a bleeding disorder and more than 1,900[iii] who received a blood transfusion died as a result of receiving contaminated blood.
Two years on from the publication of the Infected Blood Inquiry report and over 30 years from when the majority of infections occurred, only a fraction of those entitled to compensation have received a payout with thousands of impacted families and individuals left in limbo without any guidance about when their claim will start. Just 3,232 people have had compensation paid out of the 18,530 claims registered[iv]; leaving many thousands in poor health or at the end of their lives hoping their case will be processed before it’s too late.
Christine Burney, whose husband died as a result of infected blood, said:
“When the inquiry finished and compensation was promised it felt like the truth had finally been acknowledged. After years of fighting it gave families like mine hope that at last we had been recognised. Years after losing my husband, I’m still waiting for compensation. The continued delays are deeply painful – I feel forgotten once again.
Receiving compensation sooner would bring a sense of security, and also the suffering my husband endured and the loss that my family lives with every day has finally been met with compassion and justice. For me, that would bring comfort and peace of mind, knowing that his legacy lives on.”
Rachel Halford, CEO of the Hepatitis C Trust, said:
“Every day we receive another call to our helpline from a victim of this scandal who is desperate to receive the compensation they are due. They have lived with the devastating consequences of this terrible injustice for their whole lives but have yet to see any recompense. The Government must ensure the Infected Blood Compensation Authority have the right systems in place to rapidly increase the number of claims they are able to process. And they must be transparent about what’s holding this up”
Kate Burt, Chief Executive of the Haemophilia Society, said:
“The memorial service is a moment to pause as a nation and remember the suffering and loss caused by the infected blood scandal. It is shameful and unforgivable that today the delays in delivering compensation are adding to that suffering. Bereaved parents, siblings and children are dying without receiving the recognition and justice they fought so hard to achieve. The Government and the Infected Blood Compensation Authority must do far more to speed up the compensation process.”
There remain significant concerns over parts of the Government’s Infected Blood Compensation Scheme. Urgent amendments are needed for it to be accepted by the infected blood community as a fair and credible reflection of their suffering and loss.
Potential victims may not even be aware that they have been infected and that they are due compensation, as the Hepatitis C Trust still receive calls to their helpline from individuals who have only recently discovered they were infected thirty or more years ago. The charities are encouraging anyone who had a blood transfusion before 1996 to ask their doctor for a hepatitis B and C test.
[i] Infected Blood Inquiry Statistics 2022 Expert Report to the Infected Blood Inquiry: Ethics
[ii] Infected Blood Inquiry Statistics 2022 Expert Report to the Infected Blood Inquiry: Ethics
[iii] Infected Blood Inquiry Statistics 2022 Expert Report to the Infected Blood Inquiry: Ethics
[iv] Infected Blood Compensation Authority Registration and Compensation Progress Update 7th May 2026 Registration and compensation progress update: 7 May 2026 – ibca.org.uk