Asbestos disease will claim more lives'

CASES of asbestos-related diseases are on the rise in Swindon according to a top lawyer.

Brigitte Chandler, a lawyer at Charles Lucas & Marshall in Old Town, is one of the UK’s leading specialists on mesothelioma – a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos dust.

She deals with more than 100 cases for compensation at any one time across the country and has won hundreds of thousands of pounds in damages for long-suffering families.

Many of her clients have been former workers at the Great Western Railway Works and the town’s Rover plant.

It is predicted that within the next decade the UK will see 10,000 deaths a year from asbestos-related diseases, of which mesothelioma is just one.

Now Brigitte, who has 30 years experience in the field, is supporting today’s Action Mesothelioma Day, which aims to raise awareness of the disease.

“There has been a general increase in mesothelioma cases plus other asbestos-related illnesses,” she said.

“Legislation on asbestos deaths now mean there will be no compensation given to families pre-1965, as employers had no knowledge about it at the time. People are now aware of the dangers.

“There has also been a growing number of wives dying from the disease – many would have washed their husband’s work overalls.

“The national action day and other groups give support to families about mesothelioma.”

The Asbestos Victims’ Support Group, MPs, doctors, nurses and lawyers are calling for the Government to fund a UK National Centre for asbestos-related diseases, similar to the centre established in Australia.

In this country almost all the funds dedicated to mesothelioma research come from families and friends of sufferers.

Swindon and South West Asbestos Group is an independent charity set up to help asbestos sufferers and their families in this region. It offers also offers free advice on welfare benefits and obtaining legal compensation. For more information call 01793 813616 or visit www.asbestosgroup.co.uk.