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A hospice which cared for a shipyard worker with a fatal asbestos related cancer during his final days has been helped by the family making a compensation claim against his former employers.
Asbestos claims specialists Thompsons Solicitors secured more than £9,000 for St Luke’s Hospice, Winsford, on instructions from Robert Errington's family.
Mr Errington was cared for by staff at the hospice before his death in March 2009.
He suffered from mesothelioma, a disease caused by exposure to asbestos.
He was exposed to the asbestos whilst working at Palmers Hebburn Limited and Hawthorn Leslie (Shipbuilders) Ltd, both in South Tyneside.
Mr Errington, who had five grandchildren and six great grandchildren, moved to Cheshire in later years.
Family instructed Thompsons Solicitors to investigate a claim for compensation
Following his death his family instructed Thompsons Solicitors to investigate a claim for compensation.
Both shipyards’ insurers settled the claim out of court for substantial damages, including more than £9,000 towards the cost of his care at the hospice.
Tony Hood from Thompsons Solicitors said: 'Mesothelioma is a devastating disease and hospices play an important role in caring for patients with terminal illnesses. This case highlights an area of law which allows mesothelioma sufferers and their families to help the hospice by claiming compensation from the employers who were at fault.'
Dr Kate Smith from St Luke’s Hospice: “This money will help us to continue to provide the exceptional and needed services our patients receive. It costs about three million pounds every year to maintain our services and we are indebted to the local community who we rely on for donations to help us.”