First Final Payments Issued in UK’s Infected Blood Scandal Compensation

Ten victims to receive over £13 million as part of a historic scheme addressing decades of suffering and injustice.

The UK government has begun issuing final compensation payments to victims of the infected blood scandal, with ten individuals set to receive a total of £13 million this week.
The scandal, which occurred between the 1970s and 1990s, exposed over 30,000 people to HIV and hepatitis through contaminated blood products, leading to thousands of deaths and lifelong health consequences for survivors.
An £11.8 billion fund, the largest of its kind in NHS history, has been allocated to compensate victims, with the newly established Infected Blood Compensation Authority overseeing the process.
While the payments mark a significant milestone, survivors and campaigners have criticized the slow pace of compensation and the government’s handling of the scheme, citing widespread frustration and delays.
The government has invited an additional 25 individuals to make claims, with plans to expand the compensation program further in the new year to address the needs of thousands still awaiting redress.