Full-service Scottish law firm Thorntons has commented on the UK Government’s plans to launch a compensation scheme for those affected by the infected blood scandal.
The Prime Minister issued an apology over the infected blood issue yesterday, followed by an apology from the First Minister today, Tuesday 21 May.
Gary Mannion, a Personal Injury Partner at the firm, which is representing clients on the matter, said:
“The new Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA)’s proposed scheme is a welcome development following decades of distress for victims and their families.
“The law does its best to put people in the position they would have been if they hadn’t been affected. While the past clearly can’t be changed, financial compensation recognises what people have gone through.
“The IBCA scheme will be available to those infected directly and indirectly and partners, parents, and children who have been adversely impacted by living with someone who was infected, will also be eligible to make a claim.
“Provision will be made to allow those managing the estates of people who have died to apply and there could also be multiple injury awards offered to those who have been affected by more than one case, for example someone who was infected and also had an infected loved one.
“While the Government has pledged to make the process as simple as possible seeking compensation is seldom straightforward. In this case, there are several categories of awards, with awards also subject to a sliding scale dependent on the infection.
“Victims and their families should seek legal advice to ensure they get what they are entitled to under the scheme. Accepting an award doesn’t exclude further litigation but this is time-consuming and complex. Lawyers can also ease the burden of those who have already suffered by undertaking the process on their behalf.”
