Donation Made Following Mesothelioma Deaths

A Manchester hospice has been given a £90,000 funding boost after specialist lawyers recovered costs related to the care that the charity provided to two men before their deaths from asbestos-related cancer.

Karl Kenway, from Flixton, died aged 67 following a diagnosis of mesothelioma. A terminal cancer of the lining of the lung, it is often associated with exposure to asbestos.

Prior to the former hairdresser’s death, Karl and his wife of 45 years, Pauline, instructed specialist asbestos-related disease solicitors at Irwin Mitchell to investigate how he came to develop the illness. As part of Karl’s case and due to a previous landmark judgment secured by Irwin Mitchell, the family’s legal team could recover costs related to the care that Karl received from St Ann’s Hospice in Heald Green in his final months. As a result, almost £59,000 was presented to the charity.

A sum of £31,000 was also recovered by Irwin Mitchell and presented to St Ann’s Hospice following the death of Robert Robinson, 70, from Tyldesley, Manchester.  He died from mesothelioma, spending the last days of his life in St Ann’s.

Expert Opinion

St Ann’s Hospice cares for patients with life-limiting illnesses and their loved ones. The staff there put their all into looking after their patients to ensure that they have the best quality of life they possibly can despite illness. I know from visiting my clients in hospices how much they appreciate the welcoming and caring environment the staff create for them as well as the access to the specialist medical expertise in relieving symptoms.

We are so pleased that the families of Karl and Robert have been able to make this substantial payment back to St Ann’s Hospice to help to fund the invaluable work that goes on there looking after patients in the area.

The families of Karl and Robert were devastated by the loss of their loved ones. Nothing can change what they have been through but I know how pleased they are to be able to pay tribute to their loved ones and to make this contribution to the hospice.”
Geraldine Coombs - Partner

He was admitted to St Ann’s Hospice in April 2019, where he stayed until his death in September the same year.

His widow Pauline, a retired primary school teacher, said: “I miss Karl every day.  We had such a happy life together and were enjoying our retirement when he fell ill.  It all happened so quickly.

“I would like to recognise the wonderful work that the staff at St Ann’s do to support patients. The whole team, from the kitchen staff, the cleaners up to the medical team, were so kind and supportive. They were there for Karl and for me at the most difficult time we could have ever imagined and I thank them from the bottom of my heart for everything they did. I hope that the donation means the hospice can continue to help others going through what we did.”

Ann-Marie Wynne, Head of Fundraising at St Ann’s Hospice commented, “Here at St. Ann’s Hospice we believe that everyone deserves to have the best quality of life possible. We aim to meet the unique physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of those with a life-limiting illness, and to help maintain their dignity. We provide specialist palliative care for people with cancer and non-cancer life-limiting illnesses, at all stages of their illness.

“We’re not just focused on our patients either. We recognise that it’s also a difficult time for relatives, carers and friends and we provide support for them, too.

“We have two locations across Greater Manchester; Heald Green and Little Hulton, and many community outreach services across Greater Manchester including support to people in their own homes in certain areas.

"All our services are free of charge, and the sooner we’re involved, the more we can help.”

Find out more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in handling asbestos-related disease cases