Leigh Day & Co is pleased to announce its backing and support of the British Lung Foundation’s Action Mesothelioma Campaign.

The British Lung Foundation started its Action Mesothelioma Campaign three years ago with the launch of its Mesothelioma Charter surrounding the better understanding, treatment and awareness of mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer of the lining of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma), or the stomach (peritoneal mesothelioma), which can only be caused by asbestos exposure. It causes the death of around 2,000 people in England and Wales every year.

The time delay between asbestos exposure and diagnosis (“the latency period”) can be anything between 10 and 60 years.  There is no cure, but various treatments and surgeries are available to address the symptoms and effects of the disease.

Sadly, Action Mesothelioma Day 2009 coincides with the death of Nancy Tait, the formidable asbestos campaigner who ran the Occupational and Environmental Diseases Association (OEDA) following the death of her husband, Bill, from mesothelioma in 1968.  Undoubtedly many asbestos victims have benefited from Nancy Tait’s tireless work over the years.

Asbestos does not occur naturally in the UK, but due to its versatility as a building material, and particularly its heatproof qualities, it was widely imported in the 20th Century up until the early 1980’s.  Sadly some men and women who worked with asbestos, or came into contact with it, later develop asbestos diseases, including mesothelioma.  Where the exposure to asbestos was caused negligently, or in breach of statute, the victim, or their family, may be able to bring a legal claim for compensation.  Leigh Day & Co specialises in cases for asbestos victims and has wide experience of acting for mesothelioma victims and their families.



The 2009 Action Mesothelioma reception in the House of Commons was a great success with a total of 52 MPs attending and supporting the campaign.  This was an excellent turnout and the MPs who attended spent a significant amount of time talking to people with mesothelioma and their carers, healthcare professionals, members of asbestos and mesothelioma support groups and to British Lung Foundation staff. MPs at the event also signed an Early Day Motion tabled by Michael Clapham MP which calls for improved treatment, care and information for people with mesothelioma.