Recommendation IBI-A-4d: Deeming of Severity Bands
From Additional Report on Compensation, published 9 July 2025.
Recommendation
Where the level of severity of a person's infection at Level 3 or more has been established to IBCA's satisfaction in relation to a given year, but it is not known when it reached Level 3 or more, the legislative provisions should apply to deem the level of severity in the years which preceded that given year.
In brief (written by this site)
The Inquiry recommended deeming infection severity levels for earlier years when timing is unknown. In April 2026, the Cabinet Office reported that provisions used by the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) have changed to compensate anyone with a Level 4 Hepatitis infection for the period likely spent at Level 3 (Cabinet Office, Apr 2026). In July 2025, the department had stated that it would amend regulations so those diagnosed with a Level 4 Hepatitis infection unable to evidence disease progression would be deemed to have spent up to six years prior with a Level 3 infection (Cabinet Office response, Jul 2025).
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 1 Oct 2026. The record below is the sources' own words.
Government response
The Government acknowledges the concerns that the Inquiry has set out regarding the mechanism for determining the number of years a person with Hepatitis was likely to have spent at particular severity bands when there is an absence of evidence. The Government will amend the regulations so that those who were diagnosed with a level 4 Hepatitis infection, but are unable to evidence disease progression before that point, will be deemed to have spent up to six years prior to this with a level 3 infection and be compensated accordingly.
Delivery
Cabinet Office says partially delivered (14 April 2026)
The provisions that IBCA use to assume infection progression where someone lacks evidence have changed to ensure that anybody with a Level 4 Hepatitis infection will also be compensated for the period that they will likely have spent with a Level 3 infection, regardless of when they were diagnosed with a Level 4 infection.
From: Government response to consultation on proposed changes to the infected blood compensation scheme
Responsible bodies
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- UK Government
Response - Cabinet Office
Delivery statement