Victim of the infected blood scandal says compensation delays 'frustrating'
Matthew Harris is one of over 30,000 victims who received infected blood products in the 1970s and 80s.
Last updated 9th Jul 2025
A victim of the infected blood scandal says delays are frustrating and that the government are dragging their heels.
Matthew Harris from Northampton was infected with contaminated blood products at Oxfords Haemophilia Centre at the Churchill Hospital. He contracted hepatitis which has given him life long issues.
A report is due today into the timeliness of compensation, which has been dubbed the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS, affecting over 30,000 people, from the 70s to the early 90s.
Matthew says though his payment is going through currently, he fears too many are having to wait, especially those elderly parents of victims from the 70s and 80s:
"I think there's too many people unfortunately passing away far too early and not receiving any compensation. I do think the Government are dragging their heels."
On Sunday the Cabinet Office announced that it was "unlocking administrative barriers" to help the compensation body "speed up payments to victims".
The Victims and Prisoners Act will be used to get records from the Infected Blood Inquiry, and evidence will be used to contribute to assessment of proof of infection, which help some people to prove their eligibility more quickly, the Government said.
And greater commercial risk will be accepted to make compensation payments more quickly, it added.
Another step the Government is taking includes making greater use of manual data records, instead of waiting for automated systems to become available.
Until that happens Matthew says some victims feel they are 'in limbo':
"At lot of them (victims) are really frustrated and hoping these departments are going to pull their finger out and move at pace, but until than we are just standing on one leg waiting."
Speaking ahead of the publication of the new Inquiry report, 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.
"We hope the Infected Blood Inquiry's report on the government's handling of compensation will help to resolve remaining concerns about the scheme as well as maintain pressure to deliver fair payments as quickly as possible."
More than 3,000 people of the over 30,000 infected have died as a result, and survivors are living with life-long health implications.
The Infected Blood Inquiry published its main report on the scandal in May last year, and a compensation scheme was announced a day later.