PM urged to reveal compensation plans

Written by Jessica Bomford, September 8, 2022

The Haemophilia Society has written to new Prime Minister Liz Truss asking her to publish the government’s plans for a compensation scheme for all those affected by the contaminated blood scandal.

Kate Burt, Chief Executive, and Clive Smith, Chair of Trustees wrote to Ms Truss to highlight the ‘pressing need’ for full compensation for all those affected by contaminated blood and blood products. You can read their letter here.

In August, the government announced it would pay interim compensation of £100,000 to anyone registered with a UK infected blood support scheme. While this news was very welcome, many people who have suffered terrible loss were excluded, such as bereaved parents and children.

The letter calls on Ms Truss to:

  • publish the government’s response to Sir Robert Francis QC’s Infected Blood Compensation Study
  • set up shadow legal and medical panels to establish a basic compensation framework
  • look at ways to make compensation paid to estates exempt from Inheritance Tax
  • have a compensation framework ready to implement by the time Sir Brian Langstaff, Chair of the Infected Blood Inquiry, makes his final recommendations in mid-2023.

Our letter concluded: ‘Time is running out for many people who have suffered great loss. Work must resume now to ensure that compensation is paid quickly and fairly to all those who have been significantly impacted by this NHS catastrophe.’

A copy of our letter was also sent to the new head of the Cabinet Office, Nadhim Zahawi MP, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and the Paymaster General, Edward Argar MP.

Ms Truss has also been sent a letter calling for action on compensation from Dame Diana Johnson MP and Sir Peter Bottomley, co-chairs of the APPG on Haemophilia and Contaminated Blood.