Interferon Treatment Impacts
Infected Blood Inquiry · Additional Report on Compensation · Issued 9 July 2025 · Addressed to: UK Government
Source — verbatim from the inquiry
●Inquiry recommendation
People infected with Hepatitis B or C who have received a course of treatment with or based on interferon should be recognised as entitled to core awards at Level 3.
Infected Blood Inquiry, Additional Report on Compensation · 9 Jul 2025 Source PDF →
Published evidence summary
Publicly available evidence relating to this recommendation:
- A consultation on proposed changes to the infected blood compensation scheme was opened on 24 November 2025, covering the interferon treatment severity band (Consultation: Proposed Changes to the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme, Cabinet Office, November 2025).
Response — verbatim from government
●UK Government
The impact of interferon treatment on those infected with Hepatitis B or C often resulted in severe side effects, both psychological and physical. The Inquiry recommended that more be done to recognise the impact of interferon in the scheme. The Inquiry proposed that interferon could be better recognised by moving all those who received it to the equivalent of Cirrhosis Level 3 band. Alternatively the Inquiry suggested the Government could introduce a new infection severity band, between Level 2 (Chronic) and Level 3 (Cirrhosis). The Government proposes to introduce a new core route infection severity band for those who received interferon treatment, to be referred to as Level 2B. The Government will consult on the proposed awards for Level 2B to ensure these properly reflect the impacts of interferon treatment.
UK Government · 21 Jul 2025 Written response →
Evidence trail — what's actually happened since
- 21 Jul 2025 14 April 2026 update: Government response (CP 1565) confirms introduction of a new Level 2B award: "As proposed, we will introduce a new 'Level 2B' award so that people who suffered from the side-effects of interferon treatment receive an additional Injury award, as well as further financial loss and care compensation, to reflect the impact it had on their lives. Following the consultation, we will also make sure that people who received more than one round of interferon will be properly compensated for each of these rounds." Regulations to implement these changes will be brought forward later in 2026. Sources: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/changes-to-infected-blood-compensation-scheme-will-improve-support-for-victims; https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69ddf5fd7e2086c62da2f152/Government_response_to_consultation_on_proposed_changes_to_the_infected_blood_compensation_scheme__PDF_.pdf Source →
- 15 Jan 2026 · IBCA Community Update As of 13 January 2026: 3,721 people asked to start claims, 3,546 begun process, 3,074 received offers totalling £2.47bn, 2,861 paid totalling £1.89bn. Third compensation regulations in force 31 December 2025. View source → Good Progress
- 28 Oct 2025 · IBCA Independent Review IBCA has contacted 2,215 people to begin compensation claims; 1,934 started process. £812m+ paid via Horizon Shortfall Scheme. £11.8bn committed in Autumn Budget. View source → Reasonable Progress
Each entry above links to a primary source — gov.uk written statement, consultation response document, or inspection report. The Index does not characterise government intent; it tracks what has been published.
How this page is built
Source and Response are verbatim from primary documents. The Evidence trail records published activity since — written statements, consultation outcomes, inspection findings, parliamentary references. The Index does not paraphrase or characterise intent; it tracks what has been published. Where the evidence is the absence of action (a missed deadline, a slipped timetable), that absence is documented from primary sources rather than inferred.
This recommendation's data is verified periodically against primary sources. The Index is monitored for staleness weekly.