Cheque For More Than £1,000 Presented To St Leonard’s Hospice

A hospice in York was given a funding boost after it was presented with a cheque for more than £1,000 to cover the cost of care it provided to a father-of-one before he died from an asbestos-related disease.

Brian Addison, from York, passed away at St Leonard’s Hospice at the age of 79 in May 2016.  It was around five months after he was first diagnosed with mesothelioma – a cancer of the lining of the lung commonly associated with asbestos exposure.

Before he died, Brian and his family instructed specialist asbestos-related disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate how he developed the illness.  Following his death, Brian’s loved ones continued the search for answers.

The legal experts subsequently secured a settlement from the insurers of Fairfield and Ebor Lifts after it was found that his exposure to asbestos took place during his employment there between around 1973 and 1979.

Furthermore, a landmark judgement previously secured by Irwin Mitchell means the costs of hospice care can also be recovered as a part of such a case. As St Leonard’s Hospice provided support to Brian in the final weeks of his life, the lawyers have now successfully secured the organisation more than £1,000 to help cover the costs of his care.

Expert Opinion

“Hospices up and down the country do such important work in terms of supporting families through immensely difficult times.

With this in mind, we are absolutely delighted that our efforts on behalf of Brian’s loved ones have ensured that the cost of his care at St Leonard’s Hospice has also been recovered. Such donations are a fantastic way for families to say thank you and we hope these funds will ensure others can get vital support in the future too.”
Lucy Andrews - Associate Solicitor

Brian’s son said: “Dad was such an important part of the family and we all miss him so much. He was a character and was always keeping busy, making sure the house was clean and tidy, and more importantly caring for my mum and helping others.

“Whilst nothing will ever bring him back, it is comforting to know that he had such fantastic support from the staff at St Leonard’s Hospice and was well care for before he passed away.

“Their support was so important and it is great that Irwin Mitchell has been able to recover the costs of the care they provided. We hope that many future patients will benefit as a result of the move.”

Find out more on Irwin Mitchell's expertise in handling asbestos-related disease cases