Jason Evans – Factor 8

The Campaigner

Jason Evans’ father died, when Jason was just four, from AIDS and Hepatitis C after receiving infected blood products. He is now Director of Factor 8 and, for the past eight years, he has investigated and exposed evidence about the infected blood scandal in the national and international press.

In July 2017, a public inquiry into how thousands across the UK were infected by blood products was announced by the prime minister. This followed many years of lobbying by people affected and, most recently, legal actoin initiated by Jason that by July 2017 had grown into a group of litigation with over 400 potential claimants.

Jason’s own campaigning work was chronicled in ITV’s International Emmy Award Winning ‘In Cold Bloody’ documentary. He is a core participant in the Infected Blood Inquiry and gave evidence to the Inquiry about his campaigning in 2021. 

The Change

By 2020, Jason felt the Infected Blood Inquiry had already heard so much damning evidence that fault was likely to be laid at the hands of the state. However, the Government had long dismissed any talk of compensation for victims, despite those impacted dying as the inquiry continued.

Recognising this, Jason pressed ministers to initiate a ‘compensation framework’ exercise which would allow compensation details to be thrashed out before the inquiry issued its final report. This would mean more victims and families would see some form of redress before they died.

At first, their proposal was resisted but, after a year of consistent campaigning led by Jason and Factor 8, the Government announced a compensation framework exercise would take place. Sir Robert Francis KC was appointed to lead the work.

Following further campaigning and an interim report from the Inquiry, the Government paid around £400m in interim compensation to those infected who are still alive and to bereaved partners in October 2022.

The Future

The interim compensation payments made last year were only the beginning. The complete compensation framework goes much further. Redress for bereaved families and those who have died is on the horizon.

The full findings of the Infected Blood Inquiry will be published this autumn.

Jason will continue campaigning for the best possible outcome and to ensure that all those who have been so badly harmed receive some form of closure for the terrible wrongs they have suffered.