Families say infected blood scandal compensation scheme creates ‘penalty for dying’

Charities warn estates of victims who died before the scheme began are losing hundreds of thousands in financial loss payments

Families of victims of the infected blood scandal have criticised the government for imposing a penalty for dying" in its compensation scheme, which has seen them lose out on hundreds of thousands of pounds.

The scheme awards payouts to living victims and the families of those who have died after being infected with HIV or hepatitis as a result of being given contaminated blood products by the NHS.