Infected Blood Inquiry: findings and what happened next
The infection of patients with HIV and hepatitis through contaminated blood and blood products in the 1970s and 1980s.
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Type
- public inquiry
- Chaired by
- Sir Brian Langstaff
- Report published
- 20 May 2024
- Recommendations
- 12
Implementation, as of 8 October 2026Compensation is being paid through the Infected Blood Compensation Authority, which had paid about 2.38 billion pounds to 3,722 people by 30 September 2026.
What the inquiry found
- The inquiry found that the disaster "could largely, though not entirely, have been avoided" and was not an accident.2
- The inquiry found a catalogue of failures by successive governments and the NHS and described a pervasive cover-up.2
- According to reporting of the findings, more than 30,000 people were infected and about 3,000 died.2
- The inquiry found that heat treatment of blood products was adopted only at the end of 1985 although the risks were known from 1982.2
Key recommendations
- Set up a compensation scheme immediately, as detailed in the inquiry's April 2023 interim report.3
- Introduce a statutory duty of candour across the UK, extended to health service leaders.3
- Offer hepatitis C testing to people who received a blood transfusion before 1996.3
What happened next
- Part 3 of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 created a legal framework for infected blood compensation.4
- Prime Minister Rishi Sunak apologised to those affected on the day of publication.2
- The government published its response to the inquiry report.1
- The Infected Blood Compensation Authority reported 3,722 people paid, totalling about 2.38 billion pounds, with 7,151 people invited to claim.5
Read the report: www.infectedbloodinquiry.org.uk/reports/inquiry-report
Sources
- Infected Blood Inquiry, Inquiry Report (14 May 2025)
- JURIST, UK Prime Minister apologizes to victims as Infected Blood Inquiry issues final report (20 May 2024)
- The Hepatitis C Trust, Infected Blood Inquiry report published (20 May 2024)
- legislation.gov.uk, Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 (2024)
- Infected Blood Compensation Authority, Registration and compensation progress update, 8 October 2026 (8 October 2026)