Collins Solicitors

18/05/2026

MEDIA COMMENT 18 May 2026
Ahead of the national Memorial Service for infected blood victims taking place at St Paul's Cathedral tomorrow (the 2 year anniversary of the publication of the Infected Blood Inquiry report), Des Collins, senior partner at Collins Solicitors and adviser to some 1500 victims of the infected blood scandal, has the following comment: ** note: Des will be attending and available for interview ahead of the service if required **

"On the face of it a national service at St Paul's is a significant mark of respect for the many victims of the infected blood scandal and their families. It shows just how far we have come in the journey for recognition from the days when victims were stonewalled, disbelieved and denied by various state agencies over very many years. The service will be an important moment for many in the infected blood community, an opportunity to remember loved ones as well as for all in attendance to reflect on a scandal we hope is never inflicted on British citizens again.

Yet, we should not be misled into thinking this scandal is truly behind us because issues remain. Enhancements to the statutory Infected Blood Compensation Scheme (IBCS) were recently announced but are yet to be implemented. Payouts have been made to many living victims but will now need to be revisited accordingly and many, many families still await their turn to make applications to the scheme.

Yes headline extra funding has been promised but legislation is still required to enact the proposed new supplementary awards and categories behind that and may take months yet to be prepared and laid before Parliament. So at present the IBCS is operating on go- slow until the new rules take effect. The likelihood is that claim processing wont pick up again until the end of the year at least or whenever the new rules are implemented.

That is frustrating for those still awaiting funds but also those who will now want to apply to have their compensation award reviewed with regard to a potential uplift.

The infected blood community is very accustomed to delay. What is annoying is that it is now over three years since Sir Brian Langstaff's second interim report on compensation was published (in April 2023) where the principal recommendation was that a compensation scheme should be set up immediately because victims had already waited too long. And as the Memorial Services reminds us, it is 2 years since Sir Brian's final Inquiry Report. I cant help but think this all could have been avoided if previous Governments had done more to prepare adequately for the enactment of the scheme.

In addition, we still have the huge issue looming of whether there will be criminal prosecutions over the infected blood scandal.

The National Police Chiefs Council is still considering the evidence, not just in relation to what took place at Treloar's school all those years ago, but also, we understand, wider aspects of the scandal and the personalities and institutions involved. They say they still need more time to review the findings of the Inquiry and consider whether the criteria for a criminal investigation and prosecution are met. Thus this remains a big open question in terms of justice for infected blood victims and their families.

I have long said the level of culpability involved in the infected blood scandal could possibly constitute corporate manslaughter or criminal negligence. However I always bet there would be no appetite to prosecute individuals or the state institutions that failed, unlike in France where prosecutions were bought successfully.

It is perhaps interesting to remember that Andy Burnham was one of the few who have publically called for a criminal investigation relating to the infected blood scandal. Having been wrongly briefed during his time as Health Secretary, he went on to be one of the most prominent political champions for the victims of the infected blood scandal, consistently labeling the disaster a 'criminal cover-up' .

Who knows what might come to pass on this front should he return to frontline national politics."

ENDS
To interview Des Collins on this topic, please contact:- Louise Beeson: [email protected] / Mob: 07768 956997
Or his EA Tara Parkin [email protected]
Notes to Editors

The Infected Blood Inquiry, chaired by Sir Brian Langstaff, was the UK's largest ever statutory inquiry. It began in July 2018 to examine the circumstances in which patients treated by the NHS in the 1970s and 80s became infected with HIV and Hepatitis due to treatment involving infected blood products. The Inquiry Final Report was published on 20 May 2024. Collins Solicitors represented the largest victim group in the Inquiry – numbering some 1,500 infected and affected clients. An £11.8 billion compensation package is currently being disbursed by the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme and Collins Solicitors continues to support clients in the application process to the scheme.

15/04/2026

Today’s statement to the House by Paymaster General Nick Thomas-Symonds about an extra £1bn in funding for those affected by the infected blood scandal is clearly very welcome news.

As well as increasing the overall amount of money allocated to the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme (IBCS), the Government has pledged to make various adjustments to the existing scheme – for example, it will;

· Recognise psychological harm via a new supplementary award;
· Compensate those who received interferon treatment in a new severity banding;
· Increase the core award available to bereaved parents, partners and children/siblings with no additional evidence requirement;
· Establish a new category for those who were prevented from fulfilling a well-paid career or had disrupted career progression due to their infection;
· Increase the awards for those who were subjected to unethical research such as the former pupils at Treloar’s school;
· Remove the deduction applied to past care compensation for people who choose to receive support scheme payments for life.

All of this was described as being in response to the recent consultation on the workings of the IBCS and a result of listening to feedback from the infected blood community.

Mr Thomas-Symonds also promised to establish a new channel for the community to raise additional concerns about the design and delivery of the IBCS with quarterly feedback reports.

On the face of it these measures are undoubtedly positive for our clients, however legislation is still required to enact the changes so it may take a few months yet before the additional awards can be accessed and of benefit. We will spend the next days working through the detail of the documents the Government has provided to understand fully the new categories that will be created and the criteria that will apply. Some awards may need to be recalculated but not immediately, until the changes take effect. As ever, the Government is keen this sounds generous to the infected blood community but the timescales remain somewhat unclear.

To view Nick Thomas-Symonds statement in full, see https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002v8zy/house-of-commons-infected-blood-statement
source: House of Commons - Infected Blood Statement

Coverage of a statement in the House of Commons by cabinet office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds on the infected blood compensation scheme, on Tuesday 14 April.

05/02/2026

PLEASE VOTE FOR DES !!

No it's not local elections already but we would really appreciate your help to boost votes for our senior partner Des Collins in a live legal award process.

We posted earlier about the exciting news that Des has been shortlisted in the Legal Personality of the Year category of the Lexis Nexis UK Legal Awards 2026

The winner will be decided based on votes secured so we are hoping as many of our clients, friends and acquaintances as possible can show their support for Des to help him secure victory on 16th April!

Please find the voting link below.
https://survey.sogolytics.com/survey/form?k=SsRSPYUPsUWsPsPsP&lang=0

If you would be able to register your vote for Des we'd be very grateful!

Thank you.

04/02/2026

🎺 🎺 We are delighted to feature on 🎖️ TWO 🎖️ shortlists for the LexisNexis UK Legal Awards 2026! 🏆 ⭐

As a firm we have been shortlisted in the 'Customer Focus' category for our work with the infected blood community.

Our Senior Partner, Des Collins, is also in the running for 'Legal Personality of the Year' (...stay tuned for details of how to vote for him very soon!)

We are in tremendous company as you can see from the impressive shortlist here: https://ow.ly/WRpt50Y8E4G and we look forward to hearing judges' verdicts on 16th April.

Meantime congratulations to all at Collins who have contributed to this exciting news 👏 👏 and best of luck to Des for his contest too. 🤞 🤞


shortlist
Awards

31/01/2026

CORBY CHILDHOOD CANCER – RESPONSE TO COUNCIL’S DATA
The Corby campaign group led by Alison Gaffney and Andy Hinde, supported by Des Collins, Senior Partner at Collins Solicitors, today comments on the report provided by North Northamptonshire Council, which seeks to deny the existence of unusual numbers of children with cancer in the area.

Alison and Andy from Great Oakley, Corby, are parents to Fraser (now aged 9) who was diagnosed with cancer aged 17 months, said:

“The council have been sitting on our request for data for 8 months, only now to produce something that looks like it has been manipulated to usefully undermine the community’s concerns.

“A small-scale look around Deene Quarry is not going to identify widespread problems that we know exist. Our own efforts have uncovered several other at risk areas which have not been examined by the Council, according to this report.

“We asked for cancer diagnoses data for 0–24-year-olds from the time of the reclamation to date, but today’s report doesn’t cover even half of this request, so is clearly not a true representation of the Corby childhood cancer cases that exist.

“Have the children and people of Corby not suffered enough? We’ve been patient and given the local authority plenty of time to come clean - but they have chosen not to do so. It is so disrespectful.

“We are fully united behind our solicitor, Des Collins’ call for a full public inquiry as the only way to get to the truth and we’ll do everything in our power to get one.

“Without seeing the full data sets, that the council has point blankly refused to share, this summary report is not worth the paper it is written on. For many in this town, the council’s response will feel far too familiar, just like when facing the first court case on this matter some twenty years ago. That didn’t end well for them then and just fuels the fight in us now.”

Des Collins, solicitor to the local families suffering health concerns in the area, said:

“Sadly, the Council’s analysis is fatally flawed. Put simply, if you choose to look in the wrong direction you won’t find the real answers.

“We have been asking the Council for months to confirm where all the toxic waste is buried and they’ve prevaricated and deflected throughout. The report they issued today treats Deene Quarry as the sole location of all contaminated waste, which we know not to be true. Taking cancer data from this area alone is wilful blindness at best.

“The strong and determined Corby community won’t be taken for fools. They know there’s a damaging health issue across the town (and possibly beyond) and recognise it is now likely to require a public inquiry to expose it.

“Frankly, the council’s obstinacy is a shocking dereliction of duty and cruelly dismissive of the valid concerns of people it is supposed to serve.”

ENDS

Parents living now, or previously, in the area, whose children have been diagnosed with cancer may wish to join the campaign: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3899966080265223

11/12/2025

To mark the 20th anniversary of the terrible Buncefield oil depot fireball disaster near Hemel Hempstead (described at the time as the largest explosion in peacetime Europe), Des Collins has spoken to the BBC about the legacy of the event.

Des represented hundreds of victims of the disaster in their quest for compensation.

Whilst safety recommendations have improved planning around fire hazard sites, Des is concerned government housing targets driving development on brownfield land means local communities face risks that can never be entirely eliminated.

Read more here: Https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czxp4lr58ejo
Or listen: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czxp4lr58ejo

Two decades on from the UK’s biggest peacetime blast, experts analyse the risks of a repeat.

01/12/2025

We are so thrilled to have won 'Outstanding Achievement of the Year' last week at the for our work with the infected blood community. We continue to support our clients in this space with their compensation claims after their long fight for justice. They are clearly the deserving heroes of this award too and we thank those who gave kind words of feedback about our efforts on their behalf which made this award possible.

🏆Outstanding Achievement of the Year - Collins Solicitors🏆

13/11/2025

Media Release 13 November 2025

North Northamptonshire Council and campaigners united on working together on historic land contamination issue

North Northamptonshire Council has committed to work with campaigners in Corby towards a healthier future for everyone in the town.

At a meeting this week, senior leaders at the Council met with Alison Gaffney and Andy Hinde who are spearheading a group of residents with concerns over how waste from the former steelworks was buried as part of the regeneration of town in the 1980s.

At the meeting it was agreed to set up a working group, which will include Alison Gaffney, to examine public health and contamination issues in Corby.

The Council also agreed to – as part of this working group – review all of the data it has regarding contamination and explore what opportunities there are available for investigating where waste could potentially have been disposed of.

The leadership of the Council have taken the campaigners’ concerns seriously and are committed to full transparency over this historic issue.

The Council recognises the strength of feeling among Corby residents, who have long been concerned by incidences of childhood cancers and other health complaints in the town.

Cllr Martin Griffiths, Leader of North Northamptonshire Council said:
“Senior council officers and I met with Alison and Andy this week to discuss their ongoing concerns around contaminated land in Corby. Everyone at the meeting agreed it marked the start of the parties’ commitment to work together in an open, positive and constructive way for the benefit of Corby residents."

Alison Gaffney and Andy Hinde said:
“We welcome the promises of transparency made by Council Leader Martin Griffiths, Chief Executive Adele Wylie, Executive Director of Place and Economy George Candler and Director of Public Health and Wellbeing for NNC Jane Bethea at our meeting. We are encouraged by their pledge to listen and learn from our experiences in an effort to get to the bottom of this troubling issue.

“Their attitude demonstrates a major step forward for both residents and the Council. It is a significant show of unity and commitment. In this spirit, we look forward to working with them on the steps required to identify all sites of concern and to ensure appropriate testing takes place and the results are made public. After all, it is in all our interests that current residents and future generations are kept safe. The Council’s commitment will be of great relief and reassurance to us all.”

ENDS

Issued by:
North Northamptonshire Council
Liam Beasley [email protected]
&
Bell Yard Communications (on behalf of Collins Solicitors and the Corby campaigners)
Melanie Riley [email protected]

Tel: 020 7936 2021 / 07775 591244

09/10/2025

IBCA has just announced that it is now possible to register your intent to bring a claim for compensation. https://ibca.org.uk/how-scheme-will-work/registration

We are able to register you on your behalf as your legal representative should you wish us to do so. Please email [email protected] if you would like us to do this for you.

Whilst the registration process is now underway, this is simply the first step in the process and no more than a handful of claims are likely to actually commence before the end of this year. It should also be noted that the order in which individuals are called to start their claims will be determined in accordance with the recommendations of the Infected Blood Inquiry and not the order in which you register.

Should you have any queries then please email [email protected] and we will respond as soon as possible. Please note that we are able to respond far more quickly to emails than to telephone calls as the phone lines are likely to be busy.

We look forward to working with you and assisting you through the next stage.

Infected Blood Compensation Authority information website

09/10/2025

Thank you to Victoria Derbyshire and BBC Newsnight for including the concerns of Corby mums in last night's programme and speaking to our senior partner Des Collins. It's important to bring pressure to bear on North Northamptonshire Council for answers about where the toxic waste is buried and whether health data shows an abnormal cluster of children's cancer cases in the area. All support for this campaign is much appreciated.

If you missed the interview the playback link is here https://lnkd.in/epM__zzY

03/10/2025

🎺 🎺 Not content with one award this week 🤗, we are delighted to share that Des has been shortlisted for a further award - this time in the Personal Injury Awards 2025. As a firm we are also in the running for 'Outstanding Achievement of the Year' for our work with the infected blood community. Results expected in November. Meantime, good luck to all our fellow finalists in the !

Shortlisted for 🏆Claimant Lawyer of the Year - Des Collins
Shortlisted for 🏆Outstanding Achievement of the Year - Collins Solicitors