Interim payments

Following announcements from central government in England and the Northern Ireland Health Minister regarding compensation for victims of contaminated blood, Simon Hamilton, Chairperson of Haemophilia NI explained:

“The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has confirmed that victims and those who tragically lost their partners to the infected blood scandal will each receive interim compensation payments of £100,000. This is interim compensation as recommended by Sir Brian Langstaff, chairman of the public inquiry into infected blood. It is not the final payment since the recommendations made to government by the government’s nominated independent adviser, Sir Robert Francis, include arrangements recognising the circumstances of the bereaved parents and children/siblings who acted as carers of those infected. During his evidence to the inquiry, Sir Robert outlined that the complexities of making fair and final compensation arrangements would require significant effort and more time and would be dependent on the conclusions and recommendations of Sir Brian Langstaff’s inquiry report.

Interim compensation - intended to address the immediate needs of victims who have already waited too long - will be paid to those infected and affected by contaminated blood products who are currently registered on a UK infected blood support scheme. Full arrangements regarding compensation for other affected victims not currently on payment schemes will be addressed at the conclusion of the inquiry.

Following direct lobbying with Westminster and the NI Department of Health by Haemophilia NI and other campaign groups and the intervention of Sir Brian Langstaff, the Northern Ireland Health Minister, Robin Swann, has provided assurances that there will be no delay in payments to scheme recipients in Northern Ireland, despite there being no executive at present. The DoH has produced a Q&A sheet to help victims’ questions.

Haemophilia NI board of trustees is grateful to the Minister and the Infected Blood Inquiry Team in his department for their work with the Treasury and Duchy of Lancaster’s office in ensuring that delays will be avoided in making payments to Northern Ireland victims and we will continue to work with them to ensure continued progress beyond Sir Brian’s final report which is due in the Spring of 2023 so that all victims will receive recognition."