Recommendation IBI-A-4a: Interferon Treatment Impacts
From Additional Report on Compensation, published 9 July 2025.
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.
In brief (written by this site)
The Inquiry recommended Level 3 core awards for people treated with interferon. In July 2026, the Cabinet Office stated that regulations would introduce a Level 2B award reflecting interferon side effects, with compensation provided for each round of treatment (Cabinet Office, Jul 2026). This followed its April 2026 consultation response confirming that the new severity band would provide higher injury, financial loss, and care payments than Level 2 (Cabinet Office, Apr 2026). The department had initially proposed creating Level 2B rather than adopting the recommended Level 3 band in July 2025 (Cabinet Office response, Jul 2025).
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 5 Oct 2026. The record below is the sources' own words.
Government response
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.
Delivery
Cabinet Office says in progress (23 July 2026)
As proposed in the consultation, the Regulations 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, the Regulations will also make sure that people who received more than one round of interferon will be properly compensated for each of these rounds of treatment.
From: Explanatory Memorandum to the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2026
Site note: The Cabinet Office's Explanatory Memorandum to the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026/872). The memorandum carries no date of its own; the row is dated 23 July 2026, the day the Regulations were made. They came into force the next day.
Earlier statements on delivery (2)
Cabinet Office (14 April 2026)
People who were treated with interferon will receive more compensation for the impact the treatment had on their life. To do this, we will create a new Level 2B infection severity band to give eligible people higher Injury, Financial Loss and Care awards than they receive at Level 2.
From: Government response to consultation on proposed changes to the infected blood compensation scheme
Cabinet Office (13 April 2026)
In its Additional Report, the Infected Blood Inquiry recommended changes to the infection severity bands to give greater recognition for the suffering caused particularly by interferon treatment. The Government agrees that changes are needed and has consulted on a proposal to introduce a new infection severity band, referred to as Level 2B, which would increase people’s financial loss and care compensation awards where relevant, to recognise the short-term side-effects that many people suffer due to interferon treatment.
From: Infected Blood Compensation Scheme: Hepatitis (written question UIN 124054)
Site note: Written answer of 13 April 2026 by Nick Thomas-Symonds for the Cabinet Office. The passage names the Inquiry's recommendation on recognising interferon treatment. The next day the government published its response to the consultation it mentions, which is recorded separately.
Responsible bodies
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- UK Government
Response - Cabinet Office
Delivery statement