Jessica Toale MP leads cross-party campaign demanding justice for victims of devastating pregnancy drug scandal

Bournemouth West MP Jessica Toale is leading a cross-party campaign demanding urgent government action for victims of a devastating pregnancy drug scandal, after hearing from a local family hit by this.

In a letter to Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Jessica and 36 cross party MPs with constituents directly affected by the lasting impact of pregnancy drug Diethylstilbestrol (DES) are demanding apology, increased healthcare and research and awareness raising.

DES was an anti-miscarriage drug prescribed to an estimated 300,000 women between 1939 and 1978. Despite evidence of harm emerging in the 1950s, DES continued to be prescribed for a further 20 years, even after other countries banned it following links to breast, cervical and vaginal cancers.

Even after GPs stopped prescribing the drug, the harm continued. The risk of DES is not confined to the mothers given the drug, but has gone on to impact multiple generations of women with increased risk of cancer and fertility issues.

Jessica Toale MP took action on the issue following an investigation by ITV journalists which connected her with constituent Jan Hall whose family has suffered deeply as a result of DES. Jessica met with the 75-year-old and learned how - as a toddler - she'd lost her mother, Rita, to breast cancer at the age of 32. Jan then developed cervical cancer in her 20s. And sadly, her daughters have also gone on to experience significant gynaecological health problems - a devastating inter-generational impact of what was deemed to be a safe drug when her mum was given it in the 1950's.

Jessica said: “Hearing Jan’s story – and the pain this drug has caused to her, her mother, and now her daughters – brought home the human cost of DES. This is not just a historic issue. Families are still suffering, and many don’t even know they may be at risk.

“It’s deeply concerning that DES continued to be prescribed long after evidence of its harms emerged – and that today, many healthcare professionals remain unaware of its legacy. We urgently need to raise awareness, improve screening, and ensure those affected are not left behind.”

The cross-party letter to the Health Secretary calls for:

• A formal apology to the victims of DES;

• Enhanced cancer screening for those exposed;

• NHS-wide training to improve awareness among healthcare professionals;

• Further research into the long-term and generational effects of DES;

• Support for identifying and notifying individuals who may have been exposed in utero.

Jessica praised the ITV News journalists who've worked to uncover this injustice and highlighted the ongoing lack of awareness among medical professionals, leading to delays in diagnosis and a lack of appropriate care for those hundreds of thousands of women at risk.

Other countries, including Australia, have introduced targeted screening and support programmes for individuals affected by DES. MPs are urging the UK government to follow suit and ensure families receive the recognition and healthcare they deserve.

Read more via the ITV News report.