The paymaster general has announced an increase in compensation payments for individuals impacted by the infected blood scandal, which includes an additional £35,000 for former students who underwent unacknowledged experiments at school. The government has dedicated £1 billion towards these payments.
The comprehensive report from the inquiry into what has been labeled the largest medical disaster in NHS history was released in May 2024. The subsequent compensation scheme has faced significant scrutiny and controversy.
Infected individuals and their families have raised concerns regarding delays, eligibility requirements, payment amounts, and the intricate application process associated with the compensation scheme.
Among those dissatisfied with their compensation were former students from Treloar’s College, a specialized institution in Hampshire for hemophiliacs, where some were infected during experimental trials.
On Tuesday, Nick Thomas-Symonds, the paymaster general, revealed the government’s response to public feedback concerning proposed amendments to the infected blood compensation program. The compensation fund was established at £11.8 billion in the autumn 2024 budget, with the newly announced changes projected to cost an additional £1 billion.
Thomas-Symonds remarked, “This government acknowledges that no financial amount can truly compensate for the suffering experienced by the infected blood community, but I hope these adjustments to the compensation scheme reflect our commitment to ensuring this community receives the justice they deserve.”
He noted that the base compensation would be raised for those infected, as well as for certain affected individuals, including relatives.
Over 30,000 people in the UK received treatments prior to 1996 that were contaminated with HIV, hepatitis C, or hepatitis B—resulting in more than 3,000 fatalities.
In addressing members of Parliament, Thomas-Symonds stated, “Today, I announce that we will enhance the unethical research awards. This includes raising the compensation for those who attended Treloar’s from £25,000 to £60,000, and establishing a new unethical research award of £45,000 for childhood patients treated for bleeding disorders elsewhere.”
He added, “We are also tripling the compensation for adults treated for bleeding disorders, increasing it to £30,000.”
Gary Webster, who contracted HIV and hepatitis C while attending Treloar’s in the 1970s and 80s, shared that of the 122 hemophiliac boys who were at the college, over 80 have since passed away. He expressed his cautious approval to the Press Association, stating, “I’m pleased they have listened and included all hemophiliacs across the UK. While this increase from £25,000 to £60,000 is a step forward, I question whether it is truly sufficient for a life affected by these circumstances.”
Thomas-Symonds further informed MPs that those infected who can demonstrate they either had a job offer or had recently begun employment at a salary exceeding the median income, but faced setbacks due to their illness, would be eligible for a £60,000 lump sum in addition to their core compensation.
Moreover, core injury awards will also be raised for parents whose children passed away before their 18th birthday, as well as for bereaved partners, children, and siblings under the age of 18.
Lisa Smart, spokesperson for the Liberal Democrat Cabinet Office, expressed that many individuals “still feel the scheme falls short of their needs.”
As of April 7, there have been 3,273 compensation offers made, amounting to over £2.6 billion, with 3,161 individuals having accepted their respective offers.
