Health Minister announces £1.1million compensation for thalidomide survivors.

The Health Minister has said that he will compensate the 18 thalidomide survivors from Northern Ireland.

This follows an announcement by Mike O’Brien, the Minister of State for Health Services that compensation is being made available for thalidomide survivors in England.

Michael McGimpsey said: “I fully support the principle of meeting the health needs for any patient who has suffered ill health through using medicines which, unknown to them, carried unacceptable safety risks.

“I can therefore confirm that £1.1million required to meet the health needs of sufferers born in Northern Ireland, will be made available to the Thalidomide Trust. My officials will undertake discussions with the Trust to agree how a personalised way of meeting these needs can be best achieved.

“I am sincerely sorry for the injury and suffering endured by those affected when expectant mothers took the thalidomide drug between 1958 and 1961.

“In the light of what happened, a thorough review was carried out and as a result the Medicines Control Agency (MCA), now the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), was created by the UK Medicines Act 1968.

Paul Anderson, who is a thalidomide survivor from Northern Ireland said: "As a Northern Ireland thalidomider, I very much welcome the positive response from our Government. It will make a significant difference to the lives of Thalidomiders."

Nick Dobrik, deputy chairman of the Thalidomide Trust’s National Advisory Council said: "On behalf of the Thalidomide Trust National Advisory Council, I welcome this response from the Northern Ireland Government. These additional funds will help improve the quality of life of thalidomiders and enable them to maintain their independence."

Notes to editors:

• Thalidomide was a medicine first marketed and available on a prescription only basis in the UK from April 1958. It was used very widely for, among other problems, common symptoms of early pregnancy. Thalidomide was withdrawn from use in the early 1960’s after it was discovered that it was responsible for producing harmful effects to the foetus when given in early pregnancy. These effects, which could develop after a single dose, involved mainly malformation of the limbs and defects of the ears, eyes and internal organs. Further abnormalities and problems, including effects on the central nervous system (CNS), developed in later life.
• The Thalidomide Children's Trust was established in 1973, with the object of providing support to those people who had disabilities caused because their mothers had taken the drug during pregnancy. A total of 493 people have been accepted by the Trust as beneficiaries to date, but over the same period 40 have died.
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