The Infected Blood Inquiry: Recent Updates in an Important Month - Nancy Kelehar, Temple Garden Chambers
14/05/24. The Infected Blood Inquiry was formed in 2017 and the final report of the Inquiry will be published later this month. On 20 May, the report will be published online and on the same date, the Chair of the Inquiry, Sir Brian Langstaff, will speak about his conclusions and recommendations at Central Hall, Westminster. The report should expose the extent of the failings of the NHS and other institutions that resulted in widespread infection and is likely to include important recommendations in relation to the extent of the compensation scheme.
The Government has recently indicated that it proposes to publish the details of its long-awaited compensation scheme, which could include a hierarchy of payments according to a defined tariff, very soon after the publication of the Inquiry’s final report. The Times has reported that the compensation package is expected to be northwards of £10 billion in total. However, victim groups are wary that the Government’s compensation announcement could be timed to dwarf reports on the full extent of the scandal as set out by the Inquiry, should an announcement be made on the same day as its final report.
Around 30,000 people in the UK are known to have been infected with viruses during the 1970s through to the early 1990s due to contaminated blood products. However, according to the BBC, alleged inadequate tracing of victims may mean that nearly 2,000 people have undiagnosed hepatitis C infections after transfusions with contaminated blood.
In another recent announcement, whilst bereaved children who lost parents as a result of their infected blood were not entitled to interim payments, this group are reportedly due to be included in the final compensation scheme.
Victims and campaigners have warned against any further delays to compensation as over 700 people impacted by infected blood products have died since the Inquiry began. Overall, there have been approximately 3,000 deaths due to treatments with contaminated blood.
The Inquiry Report will be published on its website on 20 May 2024.
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