THE Infected Blood Inquiry is to hold additional hearings next month as concerns grow over delays and shortcomings in compensating victims of the scandal.

Officials announced yesterday that the hearings, scheduled for May 7 and 8, will focus on the “timeliness and adequacy of the government’s response to compensation.”

Cabinet Office Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds is set to give evidence alongside senior officials from the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA).

Representatives of campaign groups and those affected by the scandal will also provide testimony.

More than 30,000 people in Britain were infected with HIV and hepatitis C after receiving contaminated blood and blood products from the 1970s to the early 1990s.

About 3,000 people have died as a result, while thousands more continue to suffer long-term health effects.

The final report of the Infected Blood Inquiry was published in May last year, followed by the announcement of a compensation scheme the next day.

In her October Budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves allocated £11.8 billion for the scheme, to be administered by the IBCA.

But campaigners and victims have since raised serious concerns about the scheme’s implementation and delays in processing claims.

According to IBCA figures released on March 14, 255 people have been invited to submit a claim, with 214 having started the process.

63 offers of compensation had been made at that point, totalling over £73 million.

About 40 people have accepted offers, with only 18 having received compensation so far.

Haemophilia Society chief executive Kate Burt said: “This powerful and unique intervention reflects the contaminated blood community’s widespread anger, confusion and despair that the government is failing to deliver on its promises.”

“The government’s infected blood compensation scheme lacks trust and credibility because it has been devised behind closed doors without working with those at the heart of this scandal.

“People are starting to lose faith that they will ever receive a fair settlement.

“We hope the Infected Blood Inquiry’s renewed scrutiny will persuade the government that it needs to listen and act on the concerns of the community.

“Far too many people have died without receiving recognition of their loss and suffering.

“The government must take responsibility for this and act quickly to get the compensation process back on track.”

IBCA interim chief executive David Foley said the organisation “is absolutely committed to working with the infected blood community to build and deliver the best possible compensation service.

“We are continuing to make offers and compensation payments and publish updated figures every month on our website.”

A government spokesman said it “remains fully committed to co-operating with the inquiry and acting on its recommendations.”

The original version of this story claimed only three offers of compensation had been made. This was incorrect and it has now been updated.