Compensation (Ex-gratia payments)

People infected with hepatitis C from NHS blood transfusions or blood products have campained for compensation from the government for a number of years. In 2004, the government announced a joint Ex-gratia Payment Scheme covering England, Scotland and Wales. While not admiting blame, the goverment set up a body called the Skipton Fund to manage the scheme.

To date, the Skipton Fund have received thousands of registered applications. Payments have already been paid to many individuals whose applications were successful.

The Skipton Fund

The Skipton Fund went live on the 5th July 2004. It provides a two stage application scheme for people infected with hepatitis C from NHS blood or blood products which is described briefly below:

Stage 1 - Lump sum payments of £20,000 to anyone who has hepatitis C as a result of blood transfusions or blood products.

Stage 2 - Further lump sum payments of £25,000 to the same individuals if they reach a more 'advanced' stage of illness, defined as the onset of cirrhosis, liver cancer or the recipient of a liver transplant.

Eligibility for Skipton Fund Applications

Individuals eligible for payments from the scheme include:

Anyone receiving blood, blood products or tissue from the NHS before September 1991

Anyone who developed hepatitis C after being treated with factor VIII or IX factor concentrates

Individuals above who cleared hepatitis C as a result of treatment

Individuals above who cleared hepatitis C spontaneously but after a period of chronic infection

In the case of eligible people who died after 29 August 2003, payments will be made to their estate.

Not eligible:

No payments will be made on behalf of anyone who died before 29 August 2003

No payments will be made on behalf of anyone who cleared the virus spontaneously during the acute phase.

How to register and apply

Contact the Skipton Fund to request a registration form. They will send you a pack containing an application form and guidance on how the scheme works. The Skipton Fund states that you do not need legal advice when filling in the application form and you will not be asked to sign any waiver.

You only need to provide basic personal details on the form. You then ask your doctor to complete the main section of the application form to provide detailed information to support your claim. Any UK doctor can do this if they can access your records but if you are registered with a specialist centre or consultant, you should ask them first because they will have direct access to your test results.

Your doctor will send the form directly to the Skipton Fund. Alternatively, registration can be done on-line at the Skipton Fund website . After submission, forms take an average of 35 working days to process.

How do I appeal?

If the Skipton Fund decides you are not eligible for payment, they will write to explain the reason why. You can then ask for an appeal by the new independent appeals panel set up by the Department of Health.

Contact the Skipton Fund in writing to say you wish to appeal and they will let you know the process to follow.

Contacting the Skipton Fund

All questions arising at any stage regarding the Ex-Gratia payment scheme should be directed to the Skipton Fund:

The Skipton Fund
PO Box 50107
London SW1H 0YF

Phone: 020 7808 1160

Email: apply@skiptonfund.org