Chair of the campaign group Tainted Blood, described the government’s tone as “encouraging”

Two weeks after the Infected Blood Inquiry published its Additional Report, victims and their families finally received a long-awaited update in Parliament. Cabinet Office Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds stood before the House of Commons on 21 July and declared that the government would be making “substantial changes” to the compensation scheme — a scheme that has been widely criticised for its slow pace and inadequate scope.

While the announcement represents a welcome shift, for many of the 30,000 people infected with HIV, hepatitis B or C through NHS treatments in the 1970s to 1990s, the wait for justice continues.

 “Profoundly Unsatisfactory” – Inquiry’s Scathing Verdict

The Additional Report, led by Inquiry Chair Sir Brian Langstaff, followed an outpouring of distress from victims and bereaved families. His conclusion was stark: the speed of compensation payments had been “profoundly unsatisfactory”, and the state had harmed victims further through its handling of the scheme over the past year.

 Government Response: 7 Recommendations Accepted, More to Follow

Thomas-Symonds outlined several major changes:

• A new self-registration process for the scheme — people will no longer need to wait to be contacted.
• Reinstatement of support payments for bereaved partners until their compensation is finalised.
• Removal of the 1982 cut-off for HIV infections, enabling more victims to claim.
• Extension of the period where compensation can be passed through estates, from 2029 to 2031.
• A review of unethical medical research compensation, including who qualifies and how much is paid.

The Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA), the arms-length body managing payments, will accept and implement all 11 recommendations within its remit, including improving transparency, speed, and communication.

A further eight recommendations require consultation with victims before final decisions are made — something Langstaff emphasised as crucial. This includes how the scheme will handle compensation for interferon-related harm and severe psychological injuries, as well as improvements to the controversial Special Category Mechanism. 

The Numbers So Far

As of mid-July, only 808 offers had been made and 587 payments completed — less than one-fifth of those believed to be eligible. While over £602 million has been offered in compensation, and over £411 million paid, this is a small fraction of the £11.8 billion the government has pledged.

According to the minister, 60% of infected individuals registered with support schemes have now been contacted, and the government remains committed to contacting the rest before the end of 2025.

Cautious Welcome from Victim’s Groups

While many of these developments mark overdue progress, they come more than a year after the Inquiry’s final report, and decades after victims were first infected.

Andy Evans, Chair of the campaign group Tainted Blood, described the government’s tone as “encouraging,” but warned that key issues remain unresolved — particularly the adequacy of compensation for hepatitis sufferers.

The government has promised faster payments, greater transparency, and fairer access to compensation. However, for many victims and families who have already waited a lifetime, words and intentions are not enough — action, and speed, are everything.

At Middleton Law, we continue to stand with the victims of this scandal. If you or a loved one have been affected and require legal guidance, please contact us now.