Thalidomide survivors in line for £18,000 a year compensation

Published on Sunday 15 November 2009 21:48

SURVIVORS of the thalidomide tragedy are set to benefit from a multimillion-pound settlement with the UK government, it emerged yesterday.

Campaigners have fought a long battle for increased payments for those who suffered often terrible deformities as a result of their mothers taking the drug during pregnancy.

They now believe they are close to reaching a deal which would give each of the 460 remaining thalidomiders an average of 18,000 a year.

It is also thought that the British state will issue a public apology over its role in the tragedy.

Members of the Thalidomide Trust will meet health minister Mike O'Brien again on Wednesday after a series of other meetings.

It follows a long-running campaign for ex gratia payments to be made by the government in recognition of allowing the NHS to prescribe thalidomide, which was used to treat morning sickness in the 1950s and 1960s.

Yesterday Guy Tweedy, a member of the Thalidomide Trust's National Advisory Council, said a deal looked close to being reached.