More than 4,000 surviving victims of the contaminated blood scandal should each receive no less than £100,000 “without delay”, a judge has said.
Sir Brian Langstaff, the chair of the infected blood inquiry, said: “Having considered the submissions and reflected on the evidence this inquiry has heard of profound physical and mental suffering across a wide range of backgrounds, from a diversity of places and in a variety of personal circumstances, I considered it right that I should make this report.
“I recommend that: (1) An interim payment should be paid, without delay, to all those infected and all bereaved partners currently registered on UK infected blood support schemes, and those who register between now and the inception of any future scheme; (2) The amount should be no less than £100,000.”
The inquiry was set up to look into how thousands of NHS patients were infected with HIV or hepatitis C by contaminated blood products imported from the US in the 1970s and 1980s.
Almost 3,000 people died in what was described as the worst treatment disaster in the history of the health service.
The UK had been reliant on supplies imported from the US, where it was manufactured with blood collected from prisoners, sex workers, drug addicts and other high-risk groups who were paid to give blood.
Kate Burt, chief executive of The Haemophilia Society, said: “The government has ignored the urgent and compelling case for interim compensation payments for too long.
“Today’s recommendations leave no room for doubt: many of those infected or bereaved are ill and dying and need compensation now.”
