Infected Blood: A Service of Recognition, Remembrance and Reflection

Key Information

• The service will take place at St. Paul’s Cathedral on Tuesday, 19 May 2026. It is scheduled to take place on the eve of the 2 year anniversary of the Infected Blood Inquiry reporting.  
• Doors will open at 10am so that attendees have time to take their seats. Everyone must be seated by 10:45am. The service will begin at 11am, and last for 1 hour. 
• The Cathedral will remain open for the attendees until 1pm.  
• For those not able to attend in person, the service will be live-streamed and recorded. Details will be shared closer to the time of the service.  

About the service

• The service will be Christian based, but all faiths will be involved and welcome. 
• The service has been designed using feedback from the community. 
• The service will be predominantly for members of the infected blood community.
• Supporters of the community will also be in attendance.
• State representatives have been invited. The Memorial Committee has invited those it wishes to witness the impact of the scandal so that this may never be repeated.
• There will be quiet space/s available at St Paul’s for anyone who may need to take some time away from the service or the crowd. There will be appropriate signage and volunteers will be able to direct you should you need to make use of this space.

What can you bring to the service?

• Bags above the maximum permitted dimensions of 45cm x 30cm x 25cm, including handles, wheels and pockets, cannot be brought into the Cathedral. There is no cloakroom facility so please do not bring larger items with you.
• For further information about St. Paul’s Cathedral please view the visitor information. 
• There will not be refreshments provided during the service as the St Paul’s Cathedral cafe will be closed. The cafe will be reopened once the service has concluded.
• We understand the service will be emotional for many. Tissues will be available on the day but you might like to bring your own.
• Please check the weather before you set off and act accordingly i.e. bring an umbrella if rain is expected.

Dress Code

• St Paul’s Cathedral is a place of worship and therefore we ask that all visitors please respect and are sensitive to this. Clothing should be suitable for occasion whilst also being comfortable for people and their needs.

Arrivals Process 

• On the day of the service, there will be one entrance to the Cathedral grounds through Paternoster Square. Attendees should arrive at Paternoster Square and approach the metal barriers. There will be ushers greeting and directing attendees.
• If you do not wish to be filmed, please avoid St. Paul’s Churchyard to access Paternoster Square.
• At the barriers, ushers will scan attendee Eventbrite QR tickets. All attendees should have their QR ticket ready to be scanned (either on their phone/device or printed out).
• After passing through the barriers, attendees should head to the West Entrance of the Cathedral - this is the main entranceentrance.
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• If an attendee has accessibility needs or wants to enter via a no-filming zone, they should head to the North Transept.
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Entering and Seating 

• After you have passed through security, you will be given an Order of Service and invited to select an envelope. You will be told during the service when to open this envelope. It will have the name of someone in the community that you will read out in unison with the congregation.  
• For the majority of attendees there will be an open seating plan.
• For those with low mobility who require an easily accessible seat - aisle seats on most rows have been reserved as “Low Mobility” seats.
• Attendees who will be acting as candlebearers will be seated on the end seats of the aisles in the nave.
• Wheelchair accessible seats have also been reserved in the North Transept.

Tube Strikes

• There is a planned tube strike from 12:00pm 19th May to 11:59am 20th May.
• If you are unable to use the tube on that day, the next best option would be the bus.
• Please visit Travel For London’s website to plan your route.
• If you need to take a taxi to or from the Cathedral on the 19th May, you will be able to claim expenses on the day. Further information on expenses can be found below.

Travel and Expenses

• For many making the journey to London it will involve travel costs. However, the Committee has a finite budget to deliver Sir Brian Langstaff’s recommendations on memorialisation.
• Financial assistance has been reserved for those in the community who need it most and would otherwise not have been able to attend without support.
• Less than half of attendees to the Church House event in November 2025 claimed expenses. 
• For those who need support, you can claim expenses for standard travel and, where the journey is over 3 hours, up to £195 per room for one night of accommodation. 
• If you have any further questions or queries around expenses, please contact ibmemorialisation@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
• On the day there will be an expenses desk in St Paul’s Cathedral to assist with any expenses related queries. The desk will be located downstairs in The Crypt of St Paul’s. Volunteers on this desk will be able to assist you further and provide support around your expenses.

Map of St Paul’s Cathedral

Please see below the layout of the Cathedral to help you plan your arrival.

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