Lawyers at Leigh Day welcome today’s Government announcement that it will set up a new Infected Blood Expert Group

The group will provide expert legal and clinical advice to the Government, working with officials to help develop a potential infected blood compensation framework.

The group is expected to be time limited to three months, with possibility to extend its remit for a further six months. One purpose of the group will be advising and supporting the Government in defining eligible infections and severities, a key issue for many of those affected.

Leigh Day partner Emma Jones, who leads the firm’s infected blood team said:

“We urge the group and government to take on board Sir Brian Langstaff’s recommendations that the cut-off date for those who can receive payments due to HCV infection be removed and that HBV as an infection is included within any compensation scheme.

"Sir Brian produced his second interim report on 5 April 2023 which set out his final position on compensation. It has taken the Government a year to reach this stage, and therefore, if the time taken by the group was more than 3 months it would be unacceptable to our clients. This is a chance for the Government to put right the wrongs of decades and it is essential that it does not miss this opportunity to bring justice to our clients after so many years.”