Today IBCA and the Paymaster General Nick Thomas-Symonds have responded to the recommendations in Sir Brian Langstaff’s Additional Report on Compensation published earlier this month.
Des Collins, senior partner at Collins Solicitors and adviser to some 1500 victims of the infected blood scandal, comments:
“Sir Brian Langstaff is to be commended for using his leverage to secure the important commitments we have heard from IBCA and the Paymaster General today.
IBCA has pledged greater engagement with and consultation of the infected blood community which we have always said is fundamental to gaining the confidence and trust of those who have been mistreated for so long. The fact IBCA has recognised the importance of a registration process is encouraging for all those who are still waiting to be invited to apply for compensation and feel very in the dark at present. We also welcome the move to include legal representatives like ourselves in the review process for those whose application is live – many of our clients have said they need our advice, assistance and reassurance when dealing with caseworkers and we know they will be relieved this support will now be possible.
Nick Thomas-Symonds’ pledges to the House this evening were also largely positive. He has accepted and will enact the majority of Sir Brian’s recommendations including removing the 1982 infection start date, reviewing the amounts to be paid to those subject to unethical research, and consider the feasibility of further supplemental routes for those infected and affected. He has also promised to introduce further regulations to recognise the physical and mental effect of treatment with Interferon and said that change is needed to the approach to the Special Category Mechanism in the supplemental route.
Clearly some of these measures will take more time to enact than others and many of these steps are frankly overdue but better late than never if improvements are to be made to the compensation package for all victims who, of course, have different needs and complex backstories.
We have heard warm words over many years about how the Government intends to put right the injustice done to our clients. It is understandable therefore that we remain sceptical that the latest changes will be implemented as speedily and generously as has been suggested today. However we hope the Paymaster General will be the one to finally come good for our clients and we hope for their sake that he does. Because this is too important and the reality on the ground is what really matters rather than statements in Parliament.”
ENDS
To interview Des Collins or any of his clients about their experience of the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme, please contact:-
Bell Yard Communications: Louise Beeson: louise@bell-yard.com / Mob: 07768 956997
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 currently being disbursed by the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme and Collins Solicitors continues to support clients in the application process to the scheme.
