Barbara Brady Believes She Was Exposed To Deadly Dust Whilst Employed As A Clerical Assistant At Barnet General Hospital’s School of Nursing

A terminally ill former clerical assistant is appealing to her ex-colleagues for information after being diagnosed with asbestos-related cancer.

Barbara Brady, from Minehead, Somerset instructed expert asbestos-related disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate her employment history after she was diagnosed with mesothelioma, an asbestos-related cancer of the lining of the lungs, on May 16, 2016. The cancer takes decades to develop following exposure to harmful asbestos.

The 73-year-old mother-of-two believes she was exposed to asbestos while working at Barnet General Hospital’s School of Nursing between 1979 and 1986, with witnesses already stepping forward to support her suspicions.

Barbara spent most of her time filing, typing and liaising with students who wanted to study at the school, which involved arranging interviews, their accommodation and administration tasks to help them progress their application.

Irwin Mitchell has learned that on November 15, 1982 – four years before Barbara left the school of nursing – external contractors were called in to carry out asbestos removal works inside the basement of the school.

A former nurse who kept a detailed journal of her time at the institution is supporting Barbara’s legal team with their investigation. She has told Irwin Mitchell that administrative staff who regularly visited the medical record store in the basement complained of the amount of dust in the room and the poor state of the pipework.

According to her personal records from the time, dust filtered up from the basement through gaps in the skirting boards into the rooms on the ground floor above, including Barbara’s office and a number of teaching rooms.

The nurse prepared a statement at the time for senior managers at the hospital and the contractors as she was concerned about the impact of asbestos dust on staff and students on the premises. Records show that meetings were held with staff regarding their concerns about asbestos, but according to the witness’ records, insufficient action was taken.

Irwin Mitchell is now appealing to anyone else who was also at Barnet General Hospital’s School of Nursing during the same time to describe conditions at the school.

Barbara said: “My diagnosis was such a shock for me and my family and we’re still coming to terms with a now uncertain future. I’m absolutely devastated by the news and have so many questions about why I wasn’t protected from asbestos exposure.”

Barbara began to feel unwell in early 2014 when she started feeling short of breath. She was referred to Minehead Hospital by her GP for a chest x-ray in March 2016 which revealed an accumulation of fluid in her left lung.

Two months later, following a biopsy, Barbara and husband, Tom, were given the devastating news that Barbara had mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure. 

Barbara added: “I’m aware that there is no cure for mesothelioma. The diagnosis has come as an incredible shock to me and my family. I worry about what the future holds for Tom especially but I am trying to go about my normal life as best I can without dwelling on it all too much.

“My main hobby is walking and there is a large hill near my home that Tom and I used to walk up regularly. What used to take me 10 to 15 minutes now takes me around an hour with constant stops so I can catch my breath. It’s so upsetting to struggle with something I once found so enjoyable.

“I want to live the rest of my life as fully as possible and I am trying to be as positive as I can, but knowing why this happened to me is really important, not just for me but my family. So I’d ask anyone who might have information to be kind enough to get in touch.”

Expert Opinion

“Mesothelioma is a form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos dust fibres. It is responsible for the deaths of more than 2,500 people in the UK every year.

“We are investigating Barbara’s exposure during her time at the school of nursing at Barnet Hospital and are incredibly grateful to have been contacted by a witness who kept very detailed records of her time there, which corresponds with Barbara’s employment.

“We now hope to speak to more witnesses who either worked or studied at the school in the 1970s and 1980s and have any information about the renovations carried out on the premises, the presence of asbestos dust and what measures were in place to protect staff from exposure to the dust and fibres.

“We hope to help Barbara and her family understand why she was exposed to asbestos.” Virginia Chalmers - Partner

Anyone with information regarding the working conditions at Barnet General Hospital’s School of Nursing in the 1970s and 1980s should contact Virginia Chalmers on 0117 926 1514 or email Virginia.Chalmers@IrwinMitchell.com.

Our expert asbestos solicitors will provide you with free initial advice on your compensation claim if you or a loved one has suffered due to contracting mesothelioma. See our Mesothelioma Claims page for more information.