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Support groups write to Infected Blood Inquiry chair over compensation concerns

Written by Jessica Bomford, December 2, 2024

Five campaign and support groups, including the Haemophilia Society, have written to Sir Brian Langstaff, Chair of the Infected Blood Inquiry, over concerns that the government is not listening to the contaminated blood community.

The letter, which you can read in full here, comes following a week of confusion when some bereaved families who’d had their interim compensation claims approved and a payment date confirmed, then were told that further checks had been carried out and more information was needed. They do not know when their payment will be made.

The groups who’ve signed the letter are: Haemophilia Scotland, Haemophilia Northern Ireland, Tainted Blood, the Hepatitis C Trust and the Haemophilia Society. Haemophilia Wales also supports the letter. It was also signed by Adam Fleming, director of BTMK Solicitors Limited which has provided pro bono support to our members on interim compensation enquiries.

The letter tells Sir Brian that last week’s confusion, which has not been resolved, has raised concerns that the government is moving the goal posts on interim compensation payments, placing a ‘new, opaque layer of bureaucratic burden’ on applicants’ shoulders. It points out that the uncertainty has caused great anxiety across the community, not just those directly impacted, but also among people who are waiting to apply for compensation.

We believe it is crucial that the government addresses a number of key concerns around its compensation scheme and is far more open about its actions. We have twice recently written to Nick Thomas-Symonds, the Paymaster General, to ask him for a meeting to discuss these concerns, but have received unsatisfactory responses and no offer of a meeting.

The letter to Sir Brian highlights our collective view that without significantly improved engagement with the infected blood community, trust in the compensation process will be damaged. We urge Sir Brian to continue to scrutinise what is happening and to do what he can to hold government to account.

All groups highlighted their willingness to meet Mr Thomas-Symonds to discuss all the issues set out in the letter to Sir Brian.

You can contact us at [email protected] with any comments or questions.