News story
Infected Blood: A Service of Recognition, Remembrance and Reflection
There will be a national service at St. Paul’s Cathedral for the infected blood community on Tuesday 19th May 2026.
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
- All attendees should have their QR Ticket ready to be scanned (either on their phone/device or printed out).
On the day of the service, there will be two entrances to the Cathedral.
- For those without accessibility needs: go to the West Entrance.
- For those with accessibility needs, and those who wish to enter via the no-filming entrance: go to the North Transept garden gates entrance.
- If you are uncertain about which entrance to use there will be ushers and volunteers around the Cathedral grounds on the day who will be able to guide you.
- Attendees will pass through a security check upon entering the Cathedral, where the Cathedral security team will visually check bags and ensure that attendees aren’t bringing in large items of luggage.
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.
Cathedral Floor map
Crypt map
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Updates to this page
Published 16 December 2025
Last updated 5 May 2026
show all updates
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Updated information for the national service at St. Paul's Cathedral on Tuesday 19 May 2026
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Updated the include a link to the page for claiming expenses
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Updated with contact details and further information
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Added a link to the video: Clive Smith on Infected Blood Memorial Service at St. Paul’s Cathedral
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First published.