Published 22 October 2026
'Everyone I spoke to welcomed me with warmth and great humanity.'
Event attendee
- Dozens of people attended IBCA’s community drop-in session in Brighton on Thursday 15 October 2026;
- The event was a chance for people living in and around Brighton to informally meet IBCA staff face-to-face to ask questions about infected blood compensation;
- Further events are being held across the UK in 2026/27.
IBCA is an independent body which pays compensation to people infected and affected by HIV, hepatitis B and C through contaminated blood or blood products.
Dozens of people attended the community drop-in event held in Brighton on Thursday 15 October. Local people impacted by the infected blood scandal were able to get insight into the infected blood compensation service, and share their experiences with the team from the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA).
A community member who attended said: “The staff at the drop-in were very understanding of how difficult revisiting the death of a loved one can be. The staff showed genuine compassion and understanding. I felt very welcome and comfortable.”
Another said: “I was extremely grateful for emotional support given when recounting my personal story. I wasn't expecting to become so emotionally affected by the event.”
The event was the latest in a number of drop-in sessions IBCA is holding across the UK. Members of the IBCA team were on hand to answer questions alongside IBCA’s Chief Executive, David Foley.
Speaking after the event, David Foley said:
“Thank you to all of the community members who took the time to come and meet with us at our community in-person event in Brighton.
“Putting people at the heart of what we do means showing up in person, not just online. As more people are brought into the service to make their compensation claim, it matters even more that we keep meeting the community where they are and hear what they need from us.
“These events give us the chance to meet people face to face, listen to their concerns and answer their questions directly. There's no better way to understand the experiences of people claiming compensation than hearing from them, and the people who represent them, first hand.”
IBCA will hold a session in Cambridge in November, and further events are planned in Northern Ireland, Edinburgh, York, Wales and Plymouth in 2027. To attend these events visit IBCA’s website at ibca.org.uk/events