Northern TUC Asbestos Support Group has now secured over £1million for asbestos victims

date: 6^th June 2013

embargo: for immediate release

Northern TUC Asbestos Support Group has now secured over £1million for asbestos victims

The latest monthly report figures from the Northern TUC's Asbestos Support and Campaign Group now show that since September 2012 it has been responsible for securing a total of £1,039,615.00 in compensation and welfare for asbestos victims in the north east and Cumbria.

The Group is a partnership between the Northern TUC, Macmillan Cancer Support, regional trade unions and Wallsend Memorial Hall and People's Centre, with the primary function of offering support, advice and information (including help with benefit claims) to people living with the effects of asbestos poisoning. It employs two dedicated members of staff, Maggie Fitzsimons, Project Worker and Maggie Bailey, Macmillan Welfare Rights Adviser.

The staff have dealt with a total of 128 cases already in the last 9 months and there are more people accessing the service all the time. The success of the Group and its reputation for helping sufferers effectively and in a sensitive manner is now making it a recognised source of support. An increasing number of clients are being referred for help directly by health professionals including Macmillan and Cancer nurses in the region.

Micky Blench, Chair of the Northern TUC Asbestos Support and Campaign Group said: 'The level of compensation and benefits we are seeing awarded and recovered by our Group is staggering and only serves as a poignant reminder that it is much needed and that demand for this service is only increasing. Our Group and on the ground staff work hard to ensure some of the most vulnerable people in our society are given the means to be cared for properly and benefit from any entitlements they are more than due.

'The growing number of referrals from dedicated health care professionals is a brilliant endorsement for Maggie and Maggie, and we can only hope it means more people who have been affected by asbestos or industrial diseases receive free, expert support with no ulterior motives.'

Maggie Bailey, Welfare Rights Adviser for the Group said: 'It's amazing to see what we've achieved in such a short space of time and the growing benefits and compensation recovered proves just how effective our Group is for the people it represents. Unfortunately there are many more people in similar circumstances who are missing out on support, benefits and services that would make their lives more comfortable at a distressing and stressful time.

'We offer a free, confidential service for anyone who has been diagnosed with an asbestos related disease or industrial cancer and above all, we're here to help.'

Patients can talk to their Macmillan Nurse and ask to be referred to the Group, or contact them direct by calling 0191 2007198 or 0191 263 5029 or email asbestos@wallsendpc.org

The Northern TUC ASCG is based at Wallsend Memorial Hall and People's Centre, Wallsend.

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Media contacts:

Tom Ross T: 0191 227 5555 M: 07919174202 E: tross@tuc.org.uk