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Asbestos victim with only months to live wins payout of £175,000
A PLUMBER from Yorkshire who has been told he has only months to live after being diagnosed with asbestos-related cancer has received a £175,000 compensation payment.
Alan Ward, 61, was exposed to asbestos while working for several hospitals in the Wakefield area between 1964 and 1972.
His job included removing asbestos lagging from pipes and boilers at sites including Clayton Hospital and Oulton Hall Hospital.
He was never warned about the dangers of working with asbestos during his time as a plumber and was not provided with any protection.
Mr Ward, who lived in Horbury, Wakefield, for 27 years and now lives in Worle, Weston-super-Mare, was diagnosed with mesothelioma in April 2007.
Doctors told Mr Ward that he might not live for another 18 months but that was two years ago.
His condition, which is terminal and has affected the lung lining, is becoming more painful as the months pass.
He secured the compensation payment after help from his trade union, Unison, which he joined 40 years ago when it was called Nalgo.
Unison helped Mr Ward pursue a claim against Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Health Authority which has taken 18 months before a settlement could be reached.
Mr Ward, a former pupil at Horbury Secondary School who is single and has no children, said the compensation would help him get by when his health deteriorates further.
He said: "I am pleased to have received compensation, as it will help cover the cost of living when my health fails further.
"The disease is progressing slowly, but I'm in a lot of pain and all they can do now is just keep increasing the painkillers.
"I was given 18 months to live, but that was over two years ago, so it's been longer than was anticipated. I didn't know about the dangers when I was 23 – we just smashed off the asbestos and carried on working.
"Employers need to identify and manage any asbestos and should inform workers if they are at risk."
After working as a plumber he later moved into more technical roles in local government and moved away from Yorkshire.
Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Health Authority settled the claim out of court.
Unison's general secretary Dave Prentis said employers had to face up to their responsibilities to their staff.
"Alan is one of a growing number of workers whose health has been fatally damaged just through going to work.
"The money will help make his remaining months comfortable, but no amount can compensate him for what he is suffering.
"Employers have to face up to their responsibilities to make sure they don't put their workers at risk of injury or death."
The lawyer who represented Mr Ward, Eamonn McDonough, from Thompson's solicitors, said: "Mr Ward knows that his time is now short and is determined to live life to the fullest while he still can. It was essential to achieve a settlement in his lifetime, as he has no dependents or next of kin. The assistance of his union enabled his claim to be dealt with quickly by our specialist asbestos litigation team.
"This compensation will enable him to enjoy some comforts that he would otherwise have not been able to afford."
A spokesperson for NHS Yorkshire and the Humber said: "Mr Ward's claim, which dates back to 1964, relates to a predecessor NHS organisation.
"When Mr Ward's claim was presented, we investigated his allegations and on the advice of our solicitors admitted liability.
"We made a number of voluntary, interim payments to Mr Ward before reaching agreement on an amicable basis with his solicitors."
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