John Sachs, a Maidstone resident, has successfully won a substantial settlement from his former employer, Farnborough Hospital, for contracting mesothelioma, an asbestos related lung cancer.

Mr Sachs was employed as a porter and cleaner at Farnborough Hospital between 1961 and 1962 and during that time was reported to have been exposed to heavy quantities of asbestos dust from materials used in the construction of the hospital.

Mr Sachs was represented by Daniel Easton, a solicitor specialising in asbestos related disease at London firm, Leigh Day & Co.  Daniel said:
"John’s claim was particularly difficult because his employment occurred 45 years ago and the hospital was destroyed in 1999.  As such there was hardly any evidence concerning John’s exposure to asbestos.  Thankfully, with the help of the local press, we were able to trace two witnesses who worked at the hospital in the 1960’s, one of whom was able to provide detailed witness evidence about the work the porters did.  It was thanks to this evidence that we were able to proceed with Mr Sachs’ claim”.

Recalling his employment, Mr Sachs said:
“the job that I undertook as a porter was very different to that of a hospital porter nowadays.  My job was more varied and involved me undertaking many different tasks.  We acted as minor haulage carriers and would travel all over the hospital”.

Although the Defendant, London Strategic Health Authority, refused to admit liability for Mr Sachs’ exposure to asbestos, Mr Sachs recalls that “health and safety was fairly slack.  They would do all sorts of maintenance work from unblocking drains to working on the pipes and it would be left to the cleaning staff to clear up the debris.  We would get dust on our hands and clothes throughout the course of the day.  We were issued with grey coats and once you had been working for a couple of days, they were filthy”.

Mr Sachs, 65, who is married to Christine Sachs, noticed he was becoming short of breath in April 2006.  Maidstone Hospital referred him to Guy's Hospital in London, where he was diagnosed with mesothelioma.  Following chemotherapy, he underwent radical surgery to remove his right lung and he continues to receive treatment at both Maidstone and Guy's Hospitals.

Although Mr Sachs had intended to work until aged 70, his career has been cut short by his illness and his compensation will assist with his lost earnings and paying for any additional care and assistance that he needs.

For further information contact Daniel Easton or Sharon Steward on 020 7650 1200.