Delays to infected blood compensation leave victims in limbo, says Herts campaigner
Infected former patient Nicola Jones has lost faith in the compensation scheme, like many others
Delays in the compensation process for victims of the infected blood scandal have left many feeling trapped and unheard, campaigners say, as a new report from the Infected Blood Inquiry is set to highlight the ongoing impact of those delays.
Nicola Jones from St Albans, who was infected with hepatitis C as a child through NHS treatment for a bleeding disorder, said she continues to feel that victims are not being treated as individuals within the government’s compensation framework.
She said: "I’m still not going to hold my breath. We do know that we were used as research. That has been proven, agreed by the Inquiry chair Sir Brian Langstaff, and recognised."
Ms Jones, who is among a group of haemophilia patients infected as a result of contaminated factor VIII treatments, described how those used in medical research are still waiting for additional recognition and payments.
"Apparently when you're invited to the scheme that is then a separate route. So it's not even included in the initial talks with IBCA," she said, referring to the Infected Blood Compensation Authority.
"From my understanding, no one's clear when that will come about. So it's almost like they'll still have a hold of you," she added.
Victims identified as having been used in research may be entitled to a supplementary payment, according to Ms Jones, but the timeline for these has not been clarified.
The government has so far allocated £11.8 billion for compensation. As of July 1, 2,043 people have been invited to apply, and 460 claims have been paid, totalling more than £326 million, according to the IBCA.
However, both infected individuals and affected family members say delays have led to severe emotional strain.
Kate Burt, Chief Executive of the Haemophilia Society, said: “Delays and uncertainty about compensation continue to have a devastating mental and physical impact on the infected blood community.”
Nicola Jones echoed those concerns, pointing to the lack of personalised assessment within the scheme: “It’s literally a standard—a bit of money that they’re chucking at you and then you’ve got to go back cap in hand to say, ‘Oh, I was used as research.’”
She described the process as overly generalised and disconnected from victims’ lived realities: “You had hep C, this is what you’re going to get. You have HIV, this is what you’re going to get. Nothing else has been taken into consideration—your work, your general health, your family life.”
Brendan West, a former soldier from Hampshire who contracted hepatitis C after a military hospital blood transfusion in the 1970s, told the PA news agency he is also still waiting for an offer, despite being in the application process.
He said: "People were very frustrated with waiting. There is still a frustration from a lot of the community.
"I hope the Government will look at the report recommendations and take fair and informed action on them."
The new Inquiry report follows additional hearings called by Inquiry chair Sir Brian Langstaff to assess the government’s progress on delivering compensation.
On Sunday, the Cabinet Office announced it would “reduce the administration and process delays” to accelerate the rollout.
Nicola Jones remains cautious about the promises.
She also raised concerns about the limited mental health support available: “I think that there should have been perhaps something sooner in place, an idea of how it has mentally impacted us and physically as well.”
One of the most troubling parts, she says, is the continued lack of awareness even within the NHS. “It’s quite disturbing how little GPs and doctors understand or know about this as well.”
The Infected Blood Inquiry’s latest report is expected to address concerns about pace, clarity, and fairness in the compensation process. Campaigners say they hope it will be a turning point—but trust remains in short supply.