Infected Blood Compensation
Find out who qualifies for infected blood compensation, how to apply, payment information, eligibility criteria, and the latest updates on the UK compensation scheme from KRW Law.
contaminated blood scandal, infected blood inquiry, compensation scheme, eligibility, payments, application process, bereaved families, affected people, hepatitis C, HIV.
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Infected Blood Compensation
Background
The infected blood scandal is widely regarded as the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS. Between the 1970s and early 1990s, more than 30,000 patients in the UK were given blood transfusions or clotting factor treatments contaminated with HIV and hepatitis viruses. Many of these products were imported from abroad and sourced from high-risk donors, including prisoners and drug users. At the time, blood screening was either inadequate or non-existent.
Those most impacted included people with haemophilia and other bleeding disorders, as well as patients who received transfusions during surgery or childbirth. Tragically, over 3,000 people have died, and thousands more continue to live with serious health complications. The scandal also caused profound social and emotional harm to families, with some infections unknowingly passed to partners and children.
After decades of campaigning, the Infected Blood Inquiry was launched in 2017 and published its final report in May 2024. The inquiry concluded that the disaster could have been largely avoided and exposed systemic failings and cover-ups by government, health authorities, and pharmaceutical companies. In response, the UK Government established the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme, administered by the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA), to provide support to those bringing claims.
Who can bring a claim under the scheme?
There are separate categories of application under the scheme, each one subject to defined procedures and rules as established by the UK Government. These fall into 3 broad categories:
- Infected Applicants
- Affected Applicants
- Applicants bringing applications on behalf of the estates of deceased but eligible Applicants
Each category of applicant must satisfy criteria that may feel overwhelming in its complexity. For this reason among many others, the UK Government correctly made provision for free legal advice to be provided to applicants to the scheme.
Who are we?
KRW Law has been added to IBCA’s Panel of accredited law firms with knowledge of the scandal and its impact on both the physical and mental health of those infected and their families. Currently we act on behalf of a large number of both infected and affected applicants to IBCA.
We have a strong track record of legal representation for victims of significant human rights breaches on the part of state bodies, and have a trauma-informed approach to client care. Our team is headed by solicitor Owen Winters.
How can we help?
KRW Law can help applicants through a process that will undoubtedly be daunting. Once registered, applicants will be on IBCA’s system. When they are ready to progress an application, IBCA will contact applicants to discuss the next steps in their claim. We have worked on a number of applications thus far and also represent a large number of persons who await their claims being progressed.
At this stage, KRW Law offer independent legal support and advice to applicants going through the claim process, helping them to establish their claim, attending on calls with IBCA claims managers, advising on offers of compensation, and making submissions on their behalf where necessary.
As one of the UK Government’s accredited Panel firms, we feel best placed to provide care and advice to those going through this process.
