Information Sought On Plawsworth Resettlement and Reestablishment Unit

The family of a retired civil servant from Sunderland who died of asbestos-related cancer in April just a month after being diagnosed with the condition have joined with lawyers to call on his former workmates to come forward and help them gain justice regarding the illness.

William Hutton developed symptoms including shortness of breath and back pain towards the end of last year and was diagnosed with mesothelioma – a cancer of the lining of the lung caused by asbestos exposure – in March. He passed away aged 76 on April 28th.

Before he died, William instructed specialist asbestos-related disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate how he came to develop the illness. 

Now - with his loved ones proceeding with the case in his memory – the legal experts are appealing for anyone who worked with William at the Department of Work and Pensions’ Plawsworth Resettlement and Reestablishment Unit near Chester-le-Street between 1984 and 1991 to come forward and help them gather information regarding the presence of asbestos at the site.

Kirstie Devine, the specialist lawyer at Irwin Mitchell’s Newcastle office who is representing William’s family, said: 

Expert Opinion

“While it is very common for asbestos exposure to be linked to industrial environments, this is one of a growing number of cases we have seen related to public buildings like government sites and hospitals.

“William’s family remain devastated at losing him and are desperate for answers as to how his contact with asbestos occurred. We would be grateful to anyone who is able to shed light on this issue and assist the case.” Kirstie Devine - Solicitor

William worked for the DWP – then known as the Department of Social Security – from 1968 but said before his death that he believed his asbestos exposure happened during his time as head manager at the Plawsworth Resettlement and Reestablishment Unit.

His widow Janet, 72, said: “William recalled how the site was short-term accommodation for a range of people and remembered that he regularly needed to visit the boiler room, where it is likely asbestos was present.

“However, he also talked about regularly visiting the nissen huts which were on-site. They were around 40 years old and he recalled they were built from a corrugated whitish-grey material which he didn’t believe was metal. Later on in his time there it was decided the buildings should no longer be used, with one reason being the apparent presence of asbestos in them.

“It has been very difficult losing William, particularly as he passed away so quickly after the illness took hold. The entire family misses him so much and we are all just desperate for answers as to how this happened. We would be grateful to anyone who may be able to come forward with information to help our case.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Sonia Akram at Irwin Mitchell’s Newcastle office on 0191 434 0719 or email Sonia.Akram@IrwinMitchell.com. 

Read more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in mesothelioma cases.