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Written question asked by Baroness Featherstone (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 26 March 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 13 April 2026. It was answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Labour) on Thursday, 9 April 2026 on behalf of the Cabinet Office.

Infected Blood Compensation Scheme: Mental Illness

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have for specific regulatory provisions to compensate the estates of those who died as a result of being given infected blood products for mental health injuries such as (1) suicide, (2) attempted suicide, and (3) other severe impairments; and what plans they have to acknowledge and compensate the estates of the deceased for additional claims for mental injury beyond the core compensation claims route.

Answer

The Infected Blood Compensation Scheme currently provides compensation for psychological harm through both the core and supplementary route, depending on the type and severity of harm. Under the supplementary route, the Severe Health Condition award offers additional compensation where someone has been diagnosed with a severe psychiatric disorder that has caused suffering beyond what is recognised and compensated for as part of their core award. The estates of deceased infected people are eligible for the core route, and to apply for the supplementary route.

The Government has recently consulted on the expansion of eligibility for a Severe Health Condition award for infected people who meet the criteria for the Special Category Mechanism (SCM) or equivalent payments. It also proposes that severe mental health issues not covered in the core route or by the existing Severe Health Condition award are compensated for by this new route. The Government has not proposed that estates of deceased infected people, unless they were receiving SCM or equivalent payments at the time of death, are eligible for this award. The Minister for the Cabinet Office hopes to update Parliament soon on the changes the Government intends to make to the compensation scheme, as a result of the public consultation.



Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL16068
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Mental illness Infected blood compensation scheme
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk