BBC Yorkshire Health Correspondent Jamie Coulson reported that a woman whose father was infected with HIV and hepatitis C due to contaminated blood products used for treating hemophilia expressed her frustration and anger over delays in compensation. Ted Burkert, a single father of five from Bradford, passed away in 1992 after suffering from a brain bleed. Eileen Burkert, his daughter, voiced her concerns ahead of a two-day hearing of the Infected Blood Inquiry, which aims to evaluate the government’s response in terms of timeliness and adequacy.
The Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA), established by the government to manage payments, emphasized its commitment to prioritizing the timely disbursement of funds to as many individuals as possible. Over 30,000 individuals were infected with HIV and hepatitis due to contaminated blood or blood products in the 1970s and 80s, resulting in the deaths of 3,000 people. In May 2024, a six-year investigation by the infected blood inquiry highlighted a series of shortcomings and suggested that the tragedy could have been largely prevented.
Following the report, the government introduced a compensation scheme for victims and their families, but criticisms have surfaced regarding its effectiveness. Eileen Burkert, now residing near Halifax, initially felt relieved when the public inquiry released its findings, but now she feels in the dark and overwhelmed with frustration and anger. She stressed the importance of receiving compensation to bring closure and enable proper grieving for her father, allowing her family to seek justice for him. The IBCA disclosed figures in April 2025 indicating that 475 individuals were invited to file claims, with 137 compensation offers totaling over £130m, of which 77 payments worth £78.4m have been disbursed to claimants so far.
The ongoing hearing of the infected blood inquiry is focusing on processing delays for claims and the extent of involvement of those affected by the scandal in the scheme’s design. The inquiry’s outcomes will be revealed at a later stage. Kate Burt, chief executive of The Haemophilia Society, criticized the government for disregarding the infected blood community’s input and failing to instill trust in the flawed compensation scheme. An IBCA spokesperson acknowledged the learning curve from past claims, noting that efforts are being made to expedite the process by expanding the team and increasing the number of claims processed each week
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