Dorset family receive six-figure settlement from Poole Hospital trust following retired porter’s death from asbestos-related cancer

University Hospitals Dorset (UHD) NHS Foundation Trust, settled Geoffrey’s family’s legal claim without an admission of liability.

Geoffrey, a grandfather of four, who his family say, “was liked by everyone”, died in December 2021.

He began working at the hospital in around 1995 and retired in 2016.

Five years into his retirement, Geoffrey’s family say he appeared to be a fit and healthy 76-year-old but that his health then suddenly deteriorated. He began struggling with shortness of breath and chest pain and attended Poole Hospital A&E.

Within weeks, Geoffrey died at the hospital to which he had dedicated so much of his career supporting patients and staff. Following his death, it was confirmed he had mesothelioma, a cancer primarily caused by exposure to asbestos.

Geoffrey and his widow, Joyce King had been married for 52 years.

In January 2022, Geoff’s daughter Sarah Rodway instructed Ewan Tant, a partner from the personal injury team at the law firm, Leigh Day to investigate his case.

On Thursday 17 November 2022, there was an inquest into Geoffrey’s death at Dorset Coroner’s Court, Bournemouth which heard from experts including a consultant physician in respiratory medicine and a consultant histopathologist.

Senior Coroner for Dorset, Rachael Griffin concluded that Geoffrey died by industrial disease.

Following years of legal correspondence, in June 2025, UHD made a six-figure settlement offer, without formally admitting liability or providing expert liability evidence. This offer was accepted by Geoffrey’s family.

In response to a Freedom of Information request made in July 2022, Poole Hospital was confirmed to have multiple areas with a “high risk” of exposure to asbestos.

The FOI request was made by the legal team as part of its investigations for the family’s legal claim against UHD NHS Foundation Trust. In the Asbestos Survey of April 2013, it revealed numerous instances of asbestos dust and debris, throughout the areas where Geoffrey worked, in particular B Block, including:

1. Throughout the boiler room in B Block, including its ventilation ductwork and air supply grill, there were visible quantities of unsealed asbestos in a “high damage” state from previous insulation debris. The survey stated: “Debris was noted on the majority of pipework and ductwork in the boiler room. We strongly recommend a full environmental clean of the boiler room.”
2. The boiler room had unsealed sprayed insulation, strongly presumed to be crocidolite, which was categorised as being “high damage”. 
3. The survey identified at least 18 separate samples of “high” danger asbestos taken in the boiler room alone, including asbestos debris and dust on the floor, the walls, the air supply, the entrance way and on the entrance fan.
4. The survey identified at least 13 separate samples of “high” danger asbestos in the plant room at B Block, including on the walls, the extractor fan and on the pipework.
5. The survey identified at least three separate samples of “high” danger asbestos in the basement service tunnel of B Block, in the air ducting, on the walls and on the surfaces generally.
6. The vast majority of the above required immediate action according to the survey, with no one being allowed to enter the areas. The remainder – and many more contained within the report – required action within the short-term, with access to these locations being limited.

No disclosure has been received by Poole Hospital or the Trust to confirm whether any further action was taken.

Geoffrey’s daughter, Sarah Rodway, said:

“Dad was liked by everyone. To lose him so suddenly, and to a disease that could have been prevented, has been devastating. Four years on, we’re still struggling to accept he’s gone. What hurts most is the feeling that hospitals and other employers are still cutting corners on asbestos safety because it’s cheaper than making places safe. We still have questions and concerns and very few answers and reassurance, and that lack of information only adds to the pain our family is now having to live with.”

Leigh Day partner, Ewan Tant said:

“Geoffrey’s family believe, and the evidence strongly suggests, that he was exposed to asbestos during his many years spent working as a porter at Poole Hospital. Documents obtained by Leigh Day show that as recently as 2013, the hospital had asbestos in a dangerous condition in areas where Geoffrey worked and at inquest the coroner confirmed Geoffrey died from industrial disease. While Geoffrey’s family believe questions remain about the asbestos discovered at Poole Hospital, I am very pleased that we were able to secure this settlement.”

Patrick Kerr of 12 King’s Bench Walk was instructed as counsel for Geoffrey’s family.