Special Event Held In Newcastle-Under-Lyme

Healthcare professionals from Staffordshire and beyond gathered in Newcastle-under-Lyme this week for a special event to share best practice and improve the patient experience for victims of asbestos-related illness.

Sponsored by national law firm Irwin Mitchell, the free Mesothelioma Study Day on Friday (November 18th) at the Ramada Hotel saw a number of experts who specialise in treating diseases caused by exposure to asbestos offer advice on all aspects of treatment and care for patients from the earliest stages of diagnosis.

Professionals from across Staffordshire, Shropshire, Cheshire and southern Derbyshire attended the day to gain a clearer understanding of the devastating impact that mesothelioma – a cancer of the lining of the lung – has on patients and how their individual needs can be better managed.

The day comes shortly after the new statistics from the Health and Safety Executive revealed that the rate of male deaths as a result of mesothelioma in West Midlands stood at 46.5 deaths per a million between 2007 and 2009. The rate for women was 9.4 per a million.

Alida Coates, an asbestos-related disease specialist at Irwin Mitchell’s Birmingham office who offered advice on the legal aspects of obtaining financial assistance to help with the cost of care and equipment often needed following diagnosis, said the event demonstrated the firm’s ongoing commitment to raise awareness of asbestos-related illness.

She said: “Our work acting for those who have suffered as a result of asbestos-related disease means we are fully aware of the terrible impact illnesses like mesothelioma can have on many people, with a huge number suffering as a result of other people’s negligence on the issue.

“Because of this, we are determined to ensure that those whose lives have been touched by mesothelioma are able to gain access to the best possible care and support following diagnosis.”

The Mesothelioma Study Day began with an introduction by Dr Imran Hussain of the University Hospital of North Staffordshire, with the morning session including a presentation on the epidemiology of mesothelioma by Nottingham University Hospital respiratory physician Dr David Baldwin and a look at the pathological and radiological needs behind the condition by Dr Daniel Gey van Pittius and Dr Ruth Summerfield of the University Hospital of North Staffordshire.

The morning ended with a presentation from Dr Hugh Antrobus from Warwick, who described percutaneous cordotomy, an evolving procedure for managing the pain experienced by many patients with mesothelioma.

In the afternoon, the presentations included surgical and non-surgical interventions in the management of mesothelioma by Mr Shalajit Ghosh, Surgeon, and Clinical Oncologist Dr Apurna Jegannathen of the University Hospital of North Staffordshire, while Dr Sarah Kelt of the Douglas Macmillan Hospice looked at early identification and planning for end of life.

Alida Coates added: “This event proved very successful in raising awareness of current and emerging treatments for this disease and highlighted the needs of so many patients who have suffered as a result of exposure to deadly asbestos fibres.

“We hope that the professionals who attended have been able to take away some new ideas for the treatment of those affected by the terrible impact of mesothelioma.”

Our expert mesothelioma claims team will provide you with free initial advice on your compensation claim if you or a loved on has been diagnosed with mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure. See our Asbestos-Related Disease Claims Guide for more information.