In response to today’s announcement from the Infected Blood Inquiry about the publication of an additional Inquiry report, Des Collins, senior partner at Collins Solicitors and adviser to some 1500 victims of the infected blood scandal – both those directly and indirectly affected – comments:

“We and our clients welcome the intervention of Sir Brian Langstaff to shine a light on the Government’s response to date in implementing his recommendations regarding compensation for the Infected blood community.

“We agree that there is an urgent need to bring some transparency to the implementation of the Compensation Scheme which has, to date, been a very opaque process. As far as our clients are concerned, there has been no meaningful participation in the development of the Scheme. They have been presented with a fait accompli of how the scheme will work and what it will pay out.

“Questions raised of policy makers at the Cabinet Office and of constituency MPs are again being met with versions of the “line to take” and the so-called Arms Length Body is simply not what it claims to be. Many of our clients and others in the community are once more fed up with the patronising approach being adopted and have reached out to Sir Brian accordingly.

“It is heartening that he has responded today in line with his commitment last May to keep an eye on progress for the community and to hold the Government to account for its response to his recommendations for Compensation. The process so far has caused significant distress and anxiety to many of the victims and their families.”

ENDS

To interview Des Collins please contact Bell Yard Communications:

Louise Beeson: louise@bell-yard.com / Mob: 07768 956997
Melanie Riley: melanie@bell-yard.com / Mob: 07775 591244

Notes to Editors

The Infected Blood Inquiry, chaired by Sir Brian Langstaff, was the UK’s largest ever statutory inquiry. It began in July 2018 to examine the circumstances in which patients treated by the NHS in the 1970s and 80s became infected with HIV and Hepatitis due to treatment involving infected blood products. The Inquiry Final Report was published on 20 May 2024. Collins Solicitors represented the largest victim group in the Inquiry – numbering some 1,500 infected and affected clients. It also worked tirelessly alongside various campaign groups within the infected blood community to put the Government under pressure to acknowledge its failings and agree to pay compensation. An £11.8 billion compensation package is now due to be disbursed by the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme and Collins Solicitors continues to support clients in the application process to the scheme.