Infected blood victims and families to get lifelong payments
An extra ÂŁ15k will go to those subjected to unethical research at a school in Hampshire
Last updated 16th Aug 2024
Victims of the infected blood scandal can receive support scheme payments for life, while those who were subjected to unethical research at a Hampshire school will get up to ÂŁ15,000 extra under changes to a multibillion-pound compensation plan.
Some affected people will also be given an increased "social impact" award recognising of the consequences of stigma surrounding the disaster.
Support scheme payments - including for bereaved partners - will continue for life separately from compensation, the Government said, as it announced it had accepted the "majority" of recommendations from an independent review.
Victims who were used for research without their knowledge will also be eligible for an extra ÂŁ10,000, with a higher award of ÂŁ15,000 for those who underwent treatment as children in a notorious case at Lord Mayor's Treloar's College in Alton.
Infected people - both living and dead - will start receiving payments through the new framework by the end of this year, while for others affected by the scandal, payments will begin in 2025, the Cabinet Office said on Friday.
It comes after senior barrister and Infected Blood Inquiry interim chairman Sir Robert Francis KC made 75 proposals to address concerns with the current compensation plans.
These included an enhanced award for those involved in a "particularly egregious" case of unethical testing at the Treloar school and an increase in the "social impact" payment for some of those affected.
Pupils at the college were treated for haemophilia using plasma blood products infected with HIV and hepatitis, and NHS clinicians continued with treatments to further their medical research despite knowing the dangers, the Infected Blood Inquiry found.
The Government said it would also raise the social impact payment for people who are likely to have lived in the same household as the infected person for more than two years.
Paymaster General and minister for the Cabinet Office Nick Thomas-Symonds said: "This is an important milestone for victims and campaigners who have waited far too long for justice.
"The Government has listened to the recommendations from Sir Robert Francis KC, heard the strong calls for change from the community and acted.
"We are going to do everything possible to deliver compensation quickly, and in many cases deliver life-changing sums to people infected and affected by this scandal.
"We know no amount of compensation can fully address the damage to people who suffered as a result of this scandal. This is why alongside the compensation, we must drive forward the wider cultural changes to make sure nothing like this ever happens again."
More potential paths to compensation will also be opened up, the Government said, for example by allowing people who have health conditions that are not recognised by the "core" route to make a personalised application.
However, some of Sir Robert's recommendations were rejected, including a proposal to uprate support payments beyond Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation.
The Government has not put a figure on how much the scheme might cost overall, though awards for those at the top end are likely to exceed ÂŁ2.5 million.
Compensation claims for victims who have died can be made through their estate by a spouse or executor, meaning for those who have died an application can be made through their estate.