Herts victim of infected blood scandal disappointed by payout scheme
Victims just under a year ago were promised 'swift' compensation by the government
A Hertfordshire victim of the infected blood scandal is one of many speaking up about the length of time compensation payments is taking.
More than 30,000 people in the UK were infected with HIV and hepatitis C after they were given contaminated blood and blood products between the 1970s and early 1990s.
Over 3,000 people died as a result and survivors are living with lifelong health implications.
just under a year ago today, the Infected Blood Inquiry's full and lengthy report was published.
It detailed how the scandal "could largely have been avoided" and that there was a "pervasive" cover-up to hide the truth in what was dubbed one of the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS.
Deliberate attempts were made to conceal the disaster, including evidence of Whitehall officials destroying documents, while patients were knowingly exposed to unacceptable risks of infection.
Almost twelve months later, victims have been speaking out again during a two-day hearing.
In her October budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves allocated £11.8 billion to compensate victims, administered by the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA).
The IBCA said, as of May 6, 677 people have been asked to start their claim and 106 payments have been made, totalling more than £96 million.
It is expected the "bulk" of payments for people infected will be paid out by 2027 and the bulk of payments for the affected are expected to be paid by 2029.
Officials from the IBCA gave evidence on Thursday.
Interim chairman Sir Robert Francis told the hearing there is an "awareness" in the IBCA "that every day we're not paying someone, the chances of someone dying are there".
IBCA interim chief executive David Foley added: "I wish we could get to everybody all at the same time."
He added: "We know we have to go faster. We know we have to do more.
"But from a standing start in May, in less than four months, we paid the first people.
"We've now written to 677 people to begin their claims.
"It is not enough, and it will not be enough until every single person's paid compensation, we are trying to go as fast as we can."
Sir Robert added: "I'm acutely aware that any time taken to receive and process claims and awards is too long for those who have waited decades for justice, and in far too many cases have died before receiving it.
"We do not expect the community to be satisfied with our work until we have made full award to all those entitled to them.
"We will continue to review our work, all the time, asking ourselves how we can go faster while maintaining accuracy, compassion and fairness."
Mr Foley said that there is not currently a timescale to open the scheme to "deceased infected" but added: "There a mission to open all of those parts of the scheme as quickly as possible."
"...four decades gone still now fighting with our community, getting smaller."
Nicola Jones, from St Albans, was diagnosed as young child with mild haemophilia, a condition where the blood struggles to clot, leading to higher risk of blood loss and internal bleeding through minor injuries.
She was only nine years old when she was given medical treatment, which she later found out had contaminated her blood with Hepatitis C.
Her health started to get affected shortly after infection, with a range of symptoms which later developed into health complications.
Like hundreds of people infected or affected, a year on from the promise of 'swift' compensation, she is yet to see a payment.
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio, she said: "Many more people have have passed away, not seeing justice or receiving compensation that was rightfully theirs.
"And sadly, we're still losing at least two people a week, and it gets to a phase where you think the government is actually delaying this on purpose.
"I think as well the general public believe that after the inquiry last year that this has been done and dusted, but sadly here we are, four decades gone still now fighting with our community, getting smaller.
"And people are becoming more frail and actually even having suicidal thoughts from the stress and upset this has caused some individuals."
A spokesperson for the Infected Blood Compensation Authority said:
"Those impacted by the infected blood scandal have waited decades for recognition and compensation, and that's why our priority remains paying as many people as soon as possible. We thank the Infected Blood Inquiry and all those who gave evidence across the two days of further hearings.
"We have started small, learning from each person making a claim, and have continued to build these learnings into our claim service as we have grown. So far, 677 people have been asked to start their compensation claim and this number continues to grow, with more than £90 million offered in compensation.
"We are now opening our service to around 100 people every week. We expect that every living and infected person registered with a support scheme will be able to start their claim by the end of 2025, and we are working through these as quickly as possible."