RWK Goodman’s new Bristol office

RWK Goodman, who have recently opened a new Bristol Office, will enhance the support available for those with asbestos-related illnesses in the area and their families.

The Chambers-ranked Mesothelioma & Asbestos team at RWK Goodman, led by partner Helen Childs, are one of the largest dedicated asbestos claims teams in the country. They can help those diagnosed with asbestos-related conditions including mesothelioma – an asbestos-related cancer - seek recompense for their illnesses. Making a claim can also allow people to access bespoke medical treatment. All of this can be done without risking a big legal bill. Reputable specialist firms will offer a no-win no-fee no deductions policy.

Mesothelioma is a relatively rare disease. Its existence and the link with asbestos has been known for over 100 years. The perception may be that asbestos use was a historic industrial practice, but the reality is that the number of people diagnosed with and dying from mesothelioma in Britain has been static for many years at around 2,500 each year. The rate of mesothelioma in Britain is the highest in the developed world, as we were heavy importers and users of asbestos from the early 20^th century well into the 1970s. However, our experience is that our clients are less frequently ex tradesmen who have worked directly with asbestos and more likely to be those with no direct exposure and who find themselves ill because of the presence of asbestos in buildings like schools, hospitals, offices and other large public and private buildings.

It takes at least ten years and usually many decades for mesothelioma to develop after an individual has been exposed to asbestos. Gathering the evidence necessary to pursue a claim for compensation, and tracking down the culpable defendants and their insurers is a niche area of the law. It’s important that people who are diagnosed instruct specialist solicitors.

Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer and one for which the treatment options were historically quite limited. In recent years, however, the range of potential treatments has greatly increased to include chemotherapy and immunotherapy, with a recent clinical trial suggesting that restricting arginine (an essential amino acid) from mesothelioma cells, in addition to chemotherapy, can have additional benefit. However, the treatment that is available on the NHS is still relatively limited and the order in which treatment can be given is very prescriptive. It is really positive news that mesothelioma patients can now be treated with immunotherapy drugs to harness and bolster their bodies own defences to fight mesothelioma tumours. However, immunotherapy is now only available as the first course of treatment – it can no longer be given after first line chemotherapy.

It is possible for individuals who are diagnosed with mesothelioma to receive bespoke medical treatment as part of the legal claims process – and is often one of the most important reasons motivating people to seek legal advice. Bespoke medical treatment may mean access to novel or cutting edge treatments – or it may allow someone to access the standard treatments like immunotherapy or chemotherapy but in a different order from the treatment pathway that is approved for use in the NHS. This can be really beneficial - both because it can really help someone with mesothelioma to maintain a good quality of life for much longer – and also because it can help them feel more in control.

Being diagnosed with mesothelioma is of course frightening and shocking. In many larger hospitals – including in Bristol – the medical team will be experienced experts who will have often treated others with the same illness. One person who makes a real difference to the lives of their patients is the specialist nurse. Many of these nurses are supported and funded by charities like Mesothelioma UK and asbestos support groups. As well as doing their best to ensure patients receive the best possible medical care, these charities often support research into treatment, raise awareness of the dangers of asbestos and campaign to ensure that future generations should not suffer from asbestos-related illnesses like past and current generations have done. Charities also often run support groups where patients and their families can meet others who have also received this frightening diagnosis - to feel supported, to know they are not alone and to learn from the experiences of others too.

RWK Goodman are staunch supporters of Mesothelioma UK and other asbestos-related charities. The chair of the board of trustees of Mesothelioma UK is Professor Nick Maskell who has dedicated much of his working life to treating and helping those with asbestos-related illnesses including mesothelioma.

A Professor of Respiratory Medicine at University of Bristol with an interest in mesothelioma research, Professor Maskell co-leads the tertiary pleural unit at North Bristol NHS Trust. He comments,

“Whilst it is a great step forward to see dual immunotherapy being offered first line to mesothelioma patients using the NHS in England and Wales, it is not possible to prescribe single agent immunotherapy at any stage, or dual immunotherapy if given as a second line treatment. Many patients have the opportunity to seek compensation through the Courts and an early agreement to allow the costs of private treatment for immunotherapy, when not available through the NHS can be very advantageous.”