The family of a York man who died more than 30 years ago after being treated with infected blood is still waiting for compensation over his death.
Richard Martindale, a haemophiliac, was treated with infected blood, resulting in him testing positive for HIV which advanced to AIDS. He died one month before his 24th birthday in 1990.
Richard’s brother, Steve Martindale, told The Press the family is still waiting for Richard’s estate to be compensated, two years after a compensation scheme was announced for victims of the infected blood scandal.
The Infected Blood Compensation Authority, set up by the government to administer the compensation, said it has paid more than £2.25 billion in compensation but acknowledged there is “still a long way to go”.
More than 30,000 people in the UK were infected with HIV and hepatitis C after they were given contaminated blood and blood products in the 1970s and early 1990s.
In excess of 3,000 people have died as a result, while survivors are living with lifelong health implications.
The Infected Blood Inquiry closed this year after examining what has been dubbed the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS.
A compensation scheme was announced in 2024, with £11.8 billion allocated for victims.
Steve said the family has had “a few emails” from the government about compensation for Richard’s estate “but nothing fantastic”.
He described the family “getting so far” with the compensation process, only to be faced with more delays as they wait to find out the next steps required to carry the case forward.
Steve’s wife, Bev Martindale, said the wait for answers over the compensation scheme is “just dragging the grief on more and more”.
Steve said: “I’m not chasing the money. It’s getting to the bottom of it — who’s at fault?”
He added: “I want someone to say, ‘I’m sorry, it’s my fault and I express my sincere apologies'.”
Recommended reading:
- 'We need action, not empty words' says blood scandal victim
- ‘You’ve got a year to live, don't tell anybody’ - man's contaminated blood HIV trauma
- MP Maskell calls for 'full compensation' for victims of blood scandal
Steve said an apology from the government over further delays to compensate victims would bring closure, allowing families whose loved ones were victims of the scandal to move on with their lives.
“We’re all scarred,” he said. “It [the scandal] broke our family — it’s broke a lot of families up. It’s killed a generation of people.”
Steve, a caretaker, 65, added that delays with the compensation scheme have resulted in victims “suffering more”. “I locked that door and threw the key away. And it’s all come back up and starting again.”
'When he walked in a room, it would light up' - tribute to infected blood scandal victim
Steve urged the government to “sort the people out with their money” and to “offer a sincere apology for the people who need it to give them closure”.
Asked if he was confident that Andy Burnham’s government would see all the infected blood scandal victims compensated, Steve said: “I’d like to think he would do — because I’m a Labour man — but in saying that, I don’t think any government can get their heads totally round this.
“I’d like to think they will sort people out, especially the poor people on their last legs, now so they don’t have to pass this onto their children ... It’s not fair.”
Steve described Richard as someone who “live his life and loved his life”, adding: “When he walked in a room, it would light up.
“Everyone loved him. He would be cracking jokes all the time and was full of life.”
Steve’s other brother, Derek Martindale, also a haemophiliac who himself became infected with both HIV and hepatitis C after being treated with contaminated blood, previously told The Press he was instructed not to tell anyone after he was diagnosed with HIV in 1985.
“What a thing to say to young men,” Steve said, “that they couldn’t tell their parents or anyone else. You think, what’s gone on in this world?”
An Infected Blood Compensation Authority spokesperson said: “Those impacted by the infected blood scandal have waited decades for recognition and to receive the compensation they are due.
“While we cannot comment on individual claims, if you have registered your intent to make an infected claim, you will be asked to start your claim by March 31, 2027. This includes claims representing the estate of someone who has died (deceased infected claims).
“As of August 25, we have asked 6,321 people to start their claim and paid more than £2.25 billion in compensation, but we know we still have a long way to go.”
Share