Digital pathway launches for infected blood scandal support

A digital pathway has been launched to facilitate dedicated psychological support to those affected by the national infected blood scandal.

More than 30,000 people, mainly with haemophilia, were given HIV and hepatitis infected blood products in the 1970s and 1980s, leading to thousands of deaths and lifelong illness.

The Infected Blood Inquiry, which ran from 2017 to 2024, confirmed systemic failures, leading to apologies and a UK-wide compensation scheme for victims and bereaved families.

To help those affected, the digital pathway went live across England on 1 October 2025 as part of the Infected Blood Psychological Service (IBPS), which delivers specialised, trauma-informed psychological and psychosocial care on behalf of the NHS.

Jullie Tran-Graham, deputy head of mental health at NHS England, said: “The opening of the digital national front door for the Infected Blood Psychological Service marks a huge milestone for the service.

“It means people have more ways to refer themselves into the service and widens access to those who need the bespoke support. This has been a key ambition for the service since its launch in 2024.

“The work to open the digital front door has required complex coordination and intense engagement across the 16 trusts who provide the service: nationally, regionally and locally.”

People can refer themselves to the service using an online referral form and begin receiving psychosocial support from specialist navigators at regional providers and specialist psychological support from 16 local providers across England.

PCMIS Health Technologies has been implemented as a standalone system to improve the confidentiality provided to infected or affected people.

The project included nationwide integration with NHS England and the development of a custom self-referral portal, enabling efficient referral processing and reporting across regions and local providers.

Byron George, chief executive at PCMIS Health Technologies, said: “Implementing IBPS within the NHS marks a significant step forward in our expertise to deliver large-scale integrated care with a smarter more connected service across the entire care pathway.

“Our team worked closely with NHS England to deliver a solution that is secure, flexible, and responsive.

“The technology isn’t just about efficiency; it’s about supporting NHS trusts at a national level to ensure every person receives the timely support they deserve.”

As part of a phased implementation, the next step is to adopt the PCMIS client portal, to provide the opportunity to complete routine outcome measures ahead of appointments, and enable patient access to the Choose & Book feature which allows them to choose a convenient appointment time.

Last year, PCMIS Health Technologies confirmed it was joining forces with Dr Julian Medical Group to offer a transformative approach to mental healthcare delivery, supporting improved accessibility and efficiency in mental health provision.