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| Apology for thalidomide survivors | Apology for thalidomide survivors |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The government has expressed its "sincere regret" and "deep sympathy" to the victims of the thalidomide scandal. | |
| Health minister Mike O'Brien made the apology in a statement to MPs - it comes after he unveiled a compensation package for survivors in December. | |
| Pregnant women were prescribed the drug in the 1950s and 1960s as a treatment for morning sickness or insomnia. | Pregnant women were prescribed the drug in the 1950s and 1960s as a treatment for morning sickness or insomnia. |
| It was withdrawn from sale in 1961 after babies were born with limb deformities and other damage. | It was withdrawn from sale in 1961 after babies were born with limb deformities and other damage. |
| Mr O'Brien said: "The government wishes to express its sincere regret and deep sympathy for the injury and suffering endured by all those affected. | |
| THALIDOMIDE Developed in Germany in the 1950sPrescribed as a 'wonder drug' for insomnia, coughs colds and headaches. Also given to pregnant women to relieve the symptoms of morning sicknessLink with birth defects shown in 1961 leading to the drug being taken off the marketAffected babies commonly suffered missing or deformed limbs and severe shortening of arms or legsThe drug also causes malformations of the eyes and ears, heart, genitals, kidneys and digestive tract and many babies would have died before birthUntil earlier this year it had not been clear exactly how Thalidomide caused birth defects but scientists now believe it affects the growth of new blood vessels in the developing embryo | |
| "We acknowledge both the physical hardship and the emotional difficulties that have faced both the children affected and their families as a result of this drug, and the challenges that many continue to endure often on a daily basis." | |
| His public statement follows the decision by the government to make more money available to the 466 thalidomide survivors in the UK. | |
| The drug's UK manufacturer, Distillers Biochemicals, paid around £28m compensation in the 1970s following a legal battle by the families of those affected. | The drug's UK manufacturer, Distillers Biochemicals, paid around £28m compensation in the 1970s following a legal battle by the families of those affected. |
| This has been subsequently topped up over the years by successor companies, although the average payout to the 466 survivors in the UK remains below £20,000 a year. | This has been subsequently topped up over the years by successor companies, although the average payout to the 466 survivors in the UK remains below £20,000 a year. |
| The government's £20m funding package is on top of this and will be shared out over the next three years. | |
| It reflects the fact that survivors are living longer than expected and as a result will have increasing health needs. | It reflects the fact that survivors are living longer than expected and as a result will have increasing health needs. |
| The Thalidomide Trust, which distributes aid to sufferers, welcomed the new government support package last month as a "real benefit". | The Thalidomide Trust, which distributes aid to sufferers, welcomed the new government support package last month as a "real benefit". |
| The UK was the second biggest user of the drug after Germany. About 2,000 babies were born with problems linked to the drug with half of them dying within months of birth. | The UK was the second biggest user of the drug after Germany. About 2,000 babies were born with problems linked to the drug with half of them dying within months of birth. |
| Another 5,000 were born elsewhere in the world. | Another 5,000 were born elsewhere in the world. |