Details of a £20m
three-year pilot scheme to explore a more personalised way of
meeting the health needs of Thalidomide survivors have been
announced today by Health Minister Mike O’Brien.
Under the scheme, the Department of Health will provide the
Thalidomide Trust with grant funding which will be distributed
amongst survivors to help meet their health needs and minimise any
further deterioration of their condition.
Following meetings with the Thalidomide Trust, its National
Advisory Council and Thalidomide survivors to discuss concerns
about their health needs the Government has agreed a pilot
approach working with the Trust to address the complex and highly
specialised needs of its beneficiaries.
The Trust will use its extensive expertise and knowledge of the
needs of its members to inform the three-year pilot that is likely
to give thalidomiders more control over their long-term health
needs.
The pilot proposal sets out clear principles for use of the
money, and the scheme will be evaluated to explore how the health
needs of thalidomiders can be best met in the longer term. The
Department of Health will also look at how this approach – working
through an expert national body – might be applied to other small
groups of patients who have specialised needs but are
geographically dispersed.
Health Minister Mike O’Brien said:
“I am extremely pleased to announce the details of the three-year
pilot scheme agreed with the Thalidomide Trust that will help
Thalidomide survivors meet their changing and increasing health
needs as they approach older age. I know that this will be a
much-anticipated early Christmas present for all those involved.
“I would also like to pay tribute to the work of the Thalidomide
Trust and its officers, and members of the National Advisory
Council who have worked tirelessly to champion the cause of
Thalidomide survivors, and whose contribution in supporting them
and their families cannot be overstated.”
Guy Tweedy, a campaigner for Thalidomide victims
said:
"We are delighted by the announcement of this pilot
scheme which should bring real benefits to Thalidomide victims."
Nick Dobrik, leader of the Thalidomide campaign
said:
"We would like to thank our lawyer Jacqueline Perry for
her continued help over the last 16 years. Without her kind advice
we would not be where we are today.
“Additionally we would like to thank Mike O'Brien for
treating us with so much respect and understanding in recent
months. Lastly I would like to thank thalidomiders themselves and
MPs from all parties for listening to our concerns and for their
support during this process."
A full statement of regret will be made in Parliament in the New Year.
Notes to Editors
The pilot scheme will run for three years from April 2010.
Funding for the grant has been found from existing health budgets.
The Thalidomide Trust’s aim is to provide relief and assistance
for those people born in the United Kingdom, damaged as a result
of their mothers having taken the drug Thalidomide (as
manufactured by Distillers Biochemicals Limited) during their
pregnancy. They are currently supporting 466 individuals. For more
information please see:
http://www.thalidomide.org.uk
Those affected by Thalidomide continue to get compensation
through a private settlement with Diageo PLC (the successor to the
company that originally marketed Thalidomide in the UK) which is
administered by the Thalidomide Trust. Diageo continues to make
annual payments to the Trust.
For more information please contact the Department of Health
press office on 020 7210 5221.
Contacts:
Department of Health
Phone: 020 7210 5221
NDS.DH@coi.gsi.gov.uk