A campaigner who has been recognised in the New Year Honours for his work on the infected blood scandal has said he hopes it highlights “this story is not over”.
Bill Wright was chairman of Haemophilia Scotland for 12 years until he stood down in August, and he was described as the “driving force” behind its representation at the Infected Blood Inquiry and the prior Penrose Inquiry in Scotland.
More than 30,000 people in the UK were infected with deadly viruses after they were given contaminated blood and blood products between the 1970s and early 1990s in the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS.
Some 3,000 people died as a result and survivors are living with lifelong health implications.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced £11.8 billion in compensation for the victims of the scandal in her October Budget, and payouts began earlier in December.
Mr Wright, who himself was diagnosed with Hepatitis C after being given an infected blood product in 1986, becomes an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the honours list for services to people with bleeding disorders and to the Infected Blood Inquiry.
The 66-year-old said of his honour: “The main thing I’m particularly pleased about is the recognition for the issues that I’ve been involved in, which was the infected blood disaster which in particular seriously affected the community of people with bleeding disorders.
“That story continues and I think it’s really important to emphasise that this story is not over.
“The recommendations of the public inquiry into infected blood are yet to be really met and that includes for example compensation to thousands of individuals, and that is taking a lot of time.
“In a sense I feel that my own award or recognition does mean there has been both public and government recognition of the issues it raised.
“I welcome it, but there are many others who have campaigned on this issue who probably equally deserve some sort of recognition as well.”
Mr Wright, who lives in Dunkeld in Perth and Kinross, worked for environmental and outdoor activity charities before he retired aged 49 due to health issues.
However he said he considers himself “one of the lucky ones” despite his health and a cancer diagnosis this year.
He said: “I myself was affected by this disaster. I received infected blood from a single concentrated blood product that was given to people with bleeding disorders in 1986.
“I was infected with Hepatitis C, I then went on to develop liver cirrhosis, and during the course of this year I’ve been diagnosed with liver cancer.
“But I’m working hard to get through chemotherapy treatment and possibly join the liver transplant list.”
Sir Brian Langstaff, chairman of the Infected Blood Inquiry, made his final recommendations on compensation in April 2023, saying victims should not face any more delays for redress.
Earlier this month the Cabinet Office said 10 people have been offered compensation totalling more than £13 million.
Mr Wright, who is married with two children, said he fears it will be a long time before the majority of people receive a payout.
He said: “This story is far from over. Sir Brian Langstaff said back in April 2023 that compensation should be paid, we’re very rapidly going to reach April 2025 and I anticipate the majority of people will not have received compensation by then, two years later.”
The Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) has been tasked with administering the payouts.
Announcing the first payouts on December 12, Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds said it was a “vital step towards delivering justice for people who have waited far too long for compensation”.
He added: “No amount of compensation can fully address the suffering as a result of this scandal, but I hope this shows that we are doing everything possible to deliver significant compensation to people infected and affected.
We know that many of you want to know when you’ll be paid and how much you’ll get.
We’re learning as we go, and we’re making sure we’re getting our compensation scheme right for each eligible person.
In 2025, we’ll steadily increase the number of people who can make their…
— Infected Blood Compensation Authority (@IBCA_UK) December 21, 2024
“That is why this Government set aside £11.8 billion for this scheme in the Budget.
“After so many years of injustice, I hope that this brings some reassurance to a community who have suffered immeasurably that action is being taken.”
David Foley, interim chief executive of the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA), said: “The infected blood community has been denied answers, justice and support for too long, and now is the time for transparency and action.
“The Infected Blood Compensation Authority was set up in May 2024 and the first set of regulations allowing us to make payments were laid in August 2024.
“Since then we have been building a claims service so we can make payments as soon as possible.
“Every single compensation claim is unique with complex circumstances. That is why we have started with a small number of people making the first compensation claims, building and improving the claim service as we go.”
IBCA said more payments are now being processed.
Earlier this month it opened the scheme up to a further 24 people and by the end of March 2025 it hopes to have made compensation offers to around 250 people, increasing to larger numbers after that.
