LONDON — Victims of the infected blood scandal will receive £100,000 compensation each “as soon as possible”, the UK Government will announce.

An estimated 2,400 people died after being infected with HIV and hepatitis C through contaminated blood products in the 1970s and 1980s in what has been labelled the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS.

It follows a long-running inquiry into the tragedy, involving over 2,000 participants who are infected or affected.  Sir Brian LANGSTAFF, the chairman of the inquiry, last month called for compensation to be provided to victims “without delay”.

His demand was backed by three former health secretaries, Jeremy HUNT, Matt HANCOCK and Andy BURNHAM.

Read more in London’s Evening Standard by Daniel Keane:

Victims of infected blood scandal to receive £100,000 compensation ‘as soon as possible’