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Episode details

Radio 4,29 Jul 2025,44 mins

Red Gold

Drama on 4

Available for over a year

New drama about the infected blood scandal and delays in paying compensation. Between the 1970s and the 1990s contaminated blood products were part of a billion dollar global industry. Forty years on, people are still dying. Compensation is coming too late for many. Byron was given infected blood in the 1980s. He experienced decades of illness, stigma and poverty. Now, after the Langstaff inquiry, he is entitled to a large compensation pay out. But settlements are slow, and he is being evicted. With a new support worker to help, and an ex-girlfriend coming back into his life, what will he do with the money, and who can he trust? What does valuing a life compromised through medical negligence mean? How is that financial value calculated? Red Gold is rooted in research, ensuring that key details, such as financial sums under the compensation scheme and the nature of relevant medical conditions, are factually accurate. Topical drama about compassion, survival and justice. Byron ….. Mat Fraser Bernie ….. Amanda Wilkin Mary ….. Christine Bottomley Writer : Anita Sullivan Production coordinator: Annie Keates Thorpe Sound design: Jon Nicholls Producer: Polly Thomas Executive producer: Joby Waldman A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 4. If you want to know more about the issues raised in the drama there are several organisations that can offer information: The Haemophilia Society - https://haemophilia.org.uk Tainted Blood - https://www.taintedblood.info Hep C Trust - https://www.hepctrust.org.uk Terrence Higgins Trust - https://www.tht.org.uk The Infected Blood Inquiry - https://www.infectedbloodinquiry.org.uk With thanks to everyone from the infected blood community who contributed.

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