Overview

• The follow-up report says closed-door decisions and lack of victim consultation have perpetuated harm and undermined faith in the Infected Blood Compensation Authority.
• Just 460 of over 30,000 eligible victims have been paid under the scheme, while 2,043 people have been invited to claim and 616 offers have been issued since last autumn.
• The inquiry highlights a “liability window” excluding HIV infections before 1982 and finds that severe side effects from early hepatitis C treatments are not fully recognised under current regulations.
• Langstaff sets out nine recommendations, including allowing victims to apply directly, dropping the stringent psychiatric-treatment evidence threshold and prioritising payments for the seriously ill.
• A Cabinet Office statement says the government will review all inquiry recommendations and work to reduce administrative delays to speed up compensation.