Andy Burnham has pledged his support for compensation for those families affected by Primodos. Their tireless campaigning since 1978 was instrumental in securing the First Do No Harm Review led by Baroness Cumberlege.
Originally, former Prime Minister Theresa May wanted a public inquiry into Primodos. But in 2018 it was decided that an independent review would examine three major healthcare scandals affecting women: Primodos, pelvic mesh and sodium valproate.
In 2021, the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety review, led by Baroness Cumberlege, conducted a comprehensive review of historic documents and found that Hormone Pregnancy Tests had caused avoidable harm, that they should have been withdrawn by the regulator after the first warnings in 1967 and that this failure to act meant that women were exposed unnecessarily to a potential risk.
Sadly, although Baroness Cumberlege recommended compensation for all three patient groups, the Primodos families were omitted from the recommendations made by Henrietta Hughes in 2024.
Burnham paid tribute to campaigners, who have suffered harm from hormone pregnancy tests between the 1950s and 1970s.
Source: Sky News, 21 October 2026
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