Victims of the infected blood scandal are set to receive compensation payouts, the government has confirmed.

More than 30,000 Britons contracted HIV or hepatitis after being given contaminated blood and blood products in the 1970s and 1980s.

It has been called the worst treatment disaster in NHS history, and was subject to a long inquiry which was published earlier in 2024.

The previous government had announced the scheme in May but current ministers said they wanted to press ahead as quickly as possible.

Campaigners had feared the payouts might be delayed because of the election being called shortly after that initial announcement.

Regulations will be passed before August 24 to allow the first payments to be made by the end of the year, BBC News reports.

How large will the infected blood victim's payouts be?

The size of the payouts will depend on individual circumstances but could top £2 million.

The compensation due is being judged under five criteria – harm caused, social impact from stigma and isolation, impact on autonomy and private life, care costs and financial loss.

The first payments will be made to those who were infected. Family members and loved ones of those infected will also be entitled to compensation but that scheme will not be available until next year.

Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds said: “This is an important milestone for victims and campaigners who have waited too long for justice. We’re going to do everything possible to deliver compensation quickly."

Jason Evans, of the campaign group Factor 8, said the move was a “welcome step”.

But he added: “Compensation for those impacted by the infected blood scandal has taken far too long and too many have died waiting.

"Today, the picture of what compensation might look like has become clearer - and now it must be delivered.”

What was the infected blood scandal?

The UK was not self-sufficient in blood donations in the early 1970s, so the government looked to the US for supplies to meet rising demand, Sky News reports.

Batches of Factor VIII began to be imported, as it is an essential blood-clotting protein which haemophiliacs do not produce naturally.

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However, much of it had been manufactured with blood collected from prisoners, drug addicts and other high-risk groups who were paid to give blood.

When the plasma was pooled together, it would take just one person carrying a virus to potentially infect an entire batch.

People were infected as donated blood was not tested for HIV until 1986 and Hepatitis C until 1991.