North Tyneside Council is working with the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) to raise awareness of the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme with local residents.
IBCA is an independent body, which pays compensation to people infected and affected by HIV, hepatitis B and C through contaminated blood or blood products.
This includes people who, mainly in the 1970s and 80s, received infected blood or plasma from a transfusion during surgery, treatment or childbirth, or blood products to treat a bleeding disorder such as Haemophilia.
It also includes people infected by transmission of infection from a person directly infected, family members and unpaid carers of an infected person.
Since being established in 2024, IBCA has contacted more than 3,500 people to start their compensation claim and paid almost £2 billion in compensation.
There may be people living in North Tyneside who are entitled to compensation, and IBCA is encouraging everyone in the area who thinks they may be eligible, to register their intent to claim compensation.
You might be eligible for compensation if you have been infected, if you’re claiming for someone infected who has sadly died, or if you’re affected by the scandal (including parents, partners, siblings, children and unregistered carers).
David Foley, Chief Executive of the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA), said:
“We are committed to paying each and every person who is eligible, as soon as we can.
“People have waited decades to get the compensation that they deserve. Since IBCA was established, almost £2 billion has been paid in compensation, but we know there is much more to do.
“Registering with IBCA allows us to understand who intends to claim, and how they would prefer to be contacted, so we can get in touch once we are able to start their claim.
“We are pleased to be working with North Tyneside Council to reach local residents who may be eligible.”
Louise Gray, Director of Public Health at North Tyneside Council said:
“We want to make sure that anyone in North Tyneside who may be eligible for compensation through the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme knows that support is available.
“If you think you might be eligible, whether you were directly infected or are a family member or carer, I would encourage you to register your intent to claim. It only takes a few minutes and ensures IBCA can contact you.
“We’re pleased to be working with IBCA to help raise awareness locally and make sure residents don’t miss out on the compensation they are entitled to.”
You can claim compensation if:
- you were infected by HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C through contaminated blood, blood products or tissue
- you’re acting on behalf of an infected person who has sadly died
- you're an affected person - that is the partner, parent, child, sibling or unpaid carer of someone who is or was infected.
There is a tool for calculating expected compensation on the IBCA website ibca.org.uk/estimate-your-compensation
Everyone who intends to make a claim for compensation from the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme can now register with IBCA.
IBCA is processing compensation claims in priority order, as recommended by the Infected Blood Inquiry. Claims will be prioritised for those who are sadly nearing the end of their lives, followed by older age groups.
It only takes a few minutes to register, with information such as name, contact details and the type of claim you would like to make.
This means that IBCA can then contact people when they are able to start making a claim, initially asking for details of the infection and evidence that it came from infected blood.
You can register your intent to make a compensation claim at ibca.org.uk/register/
If you're unable to register online, or would like help completing your registration, you can call IBCA on 0141 471 8886.