'Injustice all of its own': Inquiry into infected blood scandal finds payouts for victims delayed

A report looking at how claims are being handled will be published later.

More than 30,000 people in the UK were infected with HIV and hepatitis C after they were given contaminated blood between the 1970s and early 1990s.

In excess of 3,000 people have died as a result, and survivors are living with life-long health implications.

The PM called it: “injustice on an unprecedented stage”.

The Infected Blood Inquiry published its main report on the scandal in May last year, and a compensation scheme was announced a day later, allocating some £11.8 billion to compensate victims.

Just over a year on, only 460 people have been paid, and half a billion offered in compensation.

Those numbers — according to today’s additional 210 page report — are “profoundly unsatisfactory”.

Read more: How could trials work without juries?

Read more: Resident doctors announce five days of strike action amid ongoing dispute over pay

Sir Brian Langstaff has said delay in providing compensation to victims has created "an injustice all of its own".

Speaking as he released an additional report, Sir Brian Langstaff said: "Compensation needed to be rolled out quickly.

"Time has always been an enemy. Some time may have to be taken to get things right - but time should never be allowed to become delay.

"Delay creates an injustice all of its own. At the hearings this May no-one quibbled when Counsel to the Inquiry said it was taking too long."

A government spokesperson said: "This additional report reflects the unprecedented nature of the Infected Blood Scandal and the thoroughness of the Inquiry’s investigation.

"We are grateful to the Inquiry for its ongoing work. We will now consider all of its recommendations.

"Over £300 million has been paid to victims since the compensation scheme opened last October and we are taking action to enable a quicker compensation process."