Compensation payments for people affected by the infected blood scandal are set to increase after the government allocated an additional £1bn to support claims.
The announcement includes extra payments of £35,000 each for former pupils who were experimented on at school without their knowledge.
The paymaster general said the new money will be used to raise payments for those affected by one of the most serious treatment failures in NHS history.
Latest move follows inquiry findings
The final report of the inquiry into the scandal was published in May 2024. It described the infected blood tragedy as the biggest treatment disaster in NHS history.
A compensation scheme introduced after the inquiry has since been affected by controversy. The latest funding is intended to support the ongoing payment process and increase the amounts available to some victims and campaigners linked to the scandal.
The infected blood scandal has had long-lasting consequences for many people across the UK, and the government’s latest decision marks another attempt to address the scale of harm caused. With the new allocation, ministers are increasing the money available to the scheme while also making specific provision for former pupils who were unknowingly experimented on at school.
The announcement comes as the compensation process continues to develop following the inquiry’s findings and the wider public response to the scandal.
