JUST one in 500 victims of the infected blood scandal have been invited to seek payouts as the compensation scheme is failing to keep up with the applications it receives, a lawyer has said.

Many in the small minority will also die while they wait to receive monies, said Des Collins, senior partner at Collins Solicitors, which has advised thousands of affected people.

The Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) is currently unable to cope “with anywhere near the volume [of] applications for compensation,” he added.