The Infected Blood Inquiry, after seven years of investigation, has just released its final report on a scandal where contaminated blood products infected thousands of patients with diseases like Hepatitis C and HIV between 1970 and 1991, resulting in the deaths of approximately 3,000 people.
A crucial finding is that blood products should have been heated to kill viruses, a standard ignored due to manufacturers’ cost concerns. Additionally, the NHS’s decision to use Factor 8, made from large pools of donor blood, further exacerbated the risk, as even one infected donor could contaminate an entire batch. According to a WHO report way back in 1952 – plasma should not be made from pools of more than 20 people.
“Whatever it costs to deliver this scheme, we will pay it.”
Prime Minister, Rt. Hon Rishi Sunak
Government Response to Infected Blood Patients
Today, ministers have announced a compensation scheme worth around £10 billion for the victims. This comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak apologised for the scandal, marking it as a “day of shame for the British state.” The scheme includes interim payments of £210,000 to be made within 90 days to living infected beneficiaries, with the final scheme still being finalised.
Jason Evans, who lost his father to the contaminated blood, emphasises that victims seek not just compensation but also a clear narrative of what went wrong.
“People shouldn’t have to wake up every day, needing to fight for justice, for decades.”
Director and Founder of Factor 8, Son of Infected Blood Scandal Victim, Jason Evans
Implementation Details
Minister for the Cabinet Office John Glen will provide further details to MPs, with eligibility criteria to be published on the government website: gov.uk. While the emotional impact on the victims is immeasurable, the financial compensation is significant and will be classified as capital spending, funded by borrowing.
The precise total of the compensation package remains unclear due to its complexity. The proposed Infected Blood Compensation Authority will handle individual claims, following a model recommended by the inquiry to address various forms of suffering.
Challenges Ahead
The timeline for disbursing the compensation remains uncertain. Although there is a promise of urgency, the exact dates for when victims will receive payments are not specified. The possibility of criminal prosecutions is also being discussed, with calls for charges including corporate manslaughter against government departments.
However, with many key figures deceased and legal hurdles to overcome, achieving justice through the criminal justice system may be challenging.
Final Thought
The Infected Blood Inquiry sheds light on one of the UK’s most significant state failures, revealing a tragic series of errors and negligence that led to the suffering and deaths of thousands. The government’s announcement of a substantial compensation scheme is only a step towards addressing the long-standing grievances of the victims.
However, the complexity of the compensation process and the potential for further legal action underscore the ongoing struggle for justice.
The emotional and social impact on the victims and their families remains profound, and the quest for accountability and closure continues.
The state’s inability to protect its citizens from such a preventable tragedy highlights the need for stringent health safety standards and accountability.
The upcoming compensation, though significant, cannot fully amend the pain and loss endured by the victims and their families. As the final report is published, it is hoped that the lessons learned will prevent such a disaster from recurring and bring some measure of justice to those affected.
For more information on healthcare and wellbeing miscarriages of justice, please visit Chamber’s healthcare and wellbeing page. Comment your thoughts below, and access the Infected Blood Scandal report here.