Last week, a letter (available here) was sent to Sir Brian Langstaff, Chair of the Infected Blood Inquiry, raising concerns that the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme is not following the intentions outlined in the Inquiry Chair’s second interim report on compensation. Many issues raised by the campaign groups are being repeatedly ignored by the Government and causing anxiety and distress throughout the community.
The letter was signed by the following organisations: Haemophilia Scotland, the Haemophilia Society, Haemophilia Northern Ireland, Tainted Blood, and the Hepatitis C Trust. Haemophilia Wales has since written separately to the Inquiry, supporting the concerns raised.
Although an invitation to attend an engagement meeting with the Minister for the Cabinet Office has been received since the letter was sent, the community remains concerned. While the Infected Blood Compensation Authority is now engaging and updating the community on the scheme’s development, the Government has not adequately addressed policy concerns or consulted on the upcoming regulations for affected and supplementary routes, which are due by March 2025.
The purpose of the letter was to highlight the Government’s lack of engagement with the infected and affected community and to urge Sir Brian to take action to hold the Government accountable on their behalf.