Skip to main content

Concerns about being infected and/or affected

We understand that the publication of the Infected Blood Inquiry’s report and its findings may raise public concerns or may remind members of the public about blood transfusions they may have received in the past.  

We want to reassure you that all blood donations collected in Wales will have been tested for:  

  • HIV from October 1985,  
  • Hepatitis C in Wales from September 1991.  

Any blood testing positive for these infections will not have been available for transfusion. 

If you are worried about being infected following a blood transfusion before September 1991, the risk of having acquired an infection is very low, but if you are concerned about your risk you can access a free and confidential test for Hepatitis C and HIV from Public Health Wales. Further information about Hepatitis C is available here on the Public Health Wales website.

You can also check the symptoms for Hepatitis C and HIV on the NHS Wales symptom checkers web pages.  

If you are unsure about the timing of a blood transfusion before September 1991, you can contact the Health Board or NHS Trust where you believe the transfusion was originally given. They may be able to support you through the process of accessing the information you need.  

You could also contact the Health Board which currently holds your record for assistance. The contact details for NHS Wales Health Boards are available here. 

 

The Wales Infected Blood Support Scheme (WIBSS)

The Wales Infected Blood Support Scheme (WIBSS) aims to provide support to people who have been infected with Hepatitis C and/or HIV as a result of NHS treatment with blood in Wales. 

It aims to provide both a streamlined financial payment service, a Welfare Advice Service and a Psychology and Well-being service for Welsh beneficiaries and their families. 

England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales run their own individual registered schemes.

In Wales, anyone who was administered with infected transfusion in a Welsh hospital, regardless of current residence, can apply to be on the Wales Infected Blood Support Scheme.

Some residents in Wales may have been treated in healthcare settings in England. If you were treated in England you can apply to the England scheme. Further information about the England Infected Blood Support Scheme and how to get in touch with the team is available here. 

The Northern Ireland Scheme is available here.

The Scotland scheme is available here.

To be registered on a scheme, you will have:

  1. To complete an application form which you can find on the WIBSS website
  2. To have had the application endorsed by a medical professional
  3. To have demonstrated evidence of a transfusion delivered by the NHS in Wales prior to September 1991
  4. To provide evidence of Hepatitis C and / or HIV infection.

 

If you think you may be eligible to apply for support, please contact the team on 02921 500 900 or email wibss@wales.nhs.uk 

The UK Government is establishing a single Infected Blood Compensation Scheme to oversee all relevant compensation claims for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. As the work to establish the single scheme progresses, the Wales Infected Blood Support Scheme will continue to manage the service and is there to support you. Please following the WIBSS website for further update.