Following a campaign by Dr Zahid Chauhan, Oldham Council’s cabinet member for health and social care, Jean Purdy and Sister Marie Harris will be acknowledged for their role in spearheading the development of IVF technology through plaques at the Royal Oldham Hospital.

Oldham was home to the first baby born thanks to IVF treatment, but it recently emerged that two of the team behind the work had been overlooked. They will now be commemorated at the Royal Oldham Hospital, alongside their colleagues Sir Robert Edwards and Patrick Steptoe. The decision was taken after Cllr Zahid Chauhan wrote a public letter calling for the two pioneers to be recognised for their contribution.