The Co-Chairs of Haemophilia Scotland, along with representatives from the Haemophilia Society, Haemophilia Northern Ireland, Haemophilia Wales, Friends and Family of Haemophilia NI, and the Scottish Infected Blood Forum, met today (18th June) with the Interim Chair of the Infected Blood Compensation Authority, Sir Robert Francis, the Authority’s Interim Chief Executive, David Fowley, and the Chair of the Government Expert Panel, Sir Jonathan Montgomery. Several officials from the Cabinet Office were also present.
The meeting took place online over two hours and focused on commenting on the document produced by the Cabinet Office on the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme – Engagement Explainer. Sir Robert explained that the government had asked him to engage with the infected blood community on the compensation proposals. He aimed to gather views on the needs of those infected, rather than the details of how the scheme would be delivered at this stage. He has until early July to present his conclusions from the engagement process to the new government after the election.
In addition to the current series of meetings, Sir Robert invited written submissions from groups and individuals, which must be submitted by 30th June. This timeline allows for secondary legislation under the Victims and Prisoners Act to be passed by 24th August, the date by which the Act requires the compensation scheme to be approved.
Five topics had been identified on which each representative was invited to comment (see our earlier post). This was followed by a more general discussion on issues.
The issues raised included:
- Concerns were repeatedly expressed by all groups in attendance about the winding up of the support schemes. The need to preserve the current support scheme provisions for widows for life was specifically mentioned.
- Problems were foreseen in the planned payment of compensation through the estates of deceased members, which might result in payments to individuals with no involvement with the deceased person.
- The complexities of the compensation scheme made it difficult for individuals to understand.
- The severity banding proposed, particularly for Hepatitis C, was deemed inadequate. Further provisions should account for treatment regimes and the duration of treatment endured by individuals.
- The calculations described for financial loss were particularly difficult to follow and required specialist advice to interpret. The care award did not seem to fully reflect the devotion of spouses and family members, underestimating the true value of their contribution.
- The compensation scheme was considered too inflexible, categorising individuals with different experiences together and potentially forcing people to pursue the more complex supplementary route.
- It was confirmed that if future compensation payments were less than current support scheme payments, there would be a top-up to match the support scheme payments. However, the view was expressed that if compensation had to be topped up, it had failed as a means to adequately compensate individuals for their loss.
- The certainty with which advisers from the Cabinet Office spoke led some to express the view that the decisions had already been made and further changes were unlikely.
- There was discussion on the provision of psychological support and the variation between nations on the provision of this service.
We will be following up the meeting with a written submission.
Anyone wishing to comment directly to Sir Robert Francis before the 30th June deadline can do so by emailing: ibcaenquiries@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
A summary of the meeting will be published on IBCA’s website in due course.