The lungs have two layers of cells called the pleura or the pleural membrane. The layers are only thin, measuring around the thickness of a balloon with the inner layer covering the lungs and the outer layer lining the inside of the ribcage.   Pleural plaques and pleural thickening  Pleural plaques are small areas of scarring on the pleura which cause patches of thickening. Generally, these do not cause symptoms and so in England and Wales, compensation is not available for pleural plaques. In rare cases, pleural plaques can be so extensive that they fuse together and cause brea ..read more

Every 28th April, here at Asbestos Justice we take part in International Workers’ Memorial Day. This is a day that brings workers across the world together to remember those who have sadly lost their lives due to work and to continue the fight for the protection of those working in hazardous occupations.   This year’s theme  Each year there is a theme to the day and this year the theme is “Global: Organising for health and safety – a crucial part of union action”. This is a key theme for trade unions and working people, calling for workplaces and workers to get organised and in ..read more

The Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme (DMPS) is a Government scheme that was set up in 2014 to provide compensation for people who have been exposed to asbestos in the UK and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, but who cannot trace their former employer or their insurers and so cannot make a civil compensation claim.   How is the DMPS funded?  The scheme is funded through a levy on the employers’ liability insurance industry. Active employers’ liability insurers pay an annual amount, based on their relative market share and this covers the payments made to applicants, admin ..read more

What should I expect on my first contact with a solicitor?   We are a small, dedicated team of just five which allows us to provide a very personal and caring service to all our clients. You will speak to one of our specialist asbestos-disease solicitors or legal assistants. We are here to listen to you and answer any questions you may have.   If you are looking to make an asbestos claim, we will speak to you about your diagnosis or, if you have not yet had a diagnosis, about the medical investigations you have undergone.   Currently, the asbestos-related conditio ..read more

When faced with a diagnosis of asbestos disease, it can be a daunting time. There are so many questions about your condition, treatment and prognosis and trying to remember to ask all your questions and take in the answers is difficult. On top of that, your doctor has told you that you should contact a solicitor and claim asbestos disease compensation. How do you choose a solicitor? How will you pay them? What will you need to do? It can be overwhelming but we are here to take the stress away from you and do all of the hard work. Choose a specialist asbestos disease solicitor The first step is ..read more

You’ve been to a doctor and had a scan, the results come back to say that you have small patches of scarring on the pleura of your lung. The doctor then tells you that you have a condition called pleural plaques and mentions that this can be caused by exposure to asbestos. You think back to your working life and how you came to be exposed to asbestos in the past. You wonder to yourself; Could I make a claim for my asbestos-related pleural plaques? Unfortunately, the short answer is probably not and here’s why… The House of Lords’ Decision Prior to 2007, it was possible for a claim to be made f ..read more

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, a month set aside for the world to come together and share information, spread awareness and hold events related to lung cancer. The month also highlights the need for more research into the cancer and to help people better understand the disease. Lung cancer is the second most common cancer with more than 130 new cases every day. Lung cancer accounts for 13% of all new cancer cases. Sadly, lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death with over 16,000 deaths each year, half of these deaths are in people over the age of 75. Lung cancer survival h ..read more

Mesothelioma is a cancer caused by asbestos, it affects the lining of the body’s organs, most commonly in the lungs and the abdomen. Although recently, there have been huge steps in the treatment of mesothelioma through immunotherapy, ultimately, there is no cure for the disease. What is asbestos? Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral with heat, electric and corrosion resistant properties. The thin asbestos fibres make it flexible and because of these useful properties, asbestos has been widely used in the construction industry. How does asbestos cause mesothelioma? Asbestos fibres are ver ..read more

Today is Action Mesothelioma Day. A day to raise awareness of mesothelioma and remember those we have sadly lost to this insidious disease. Each year at Asbestos Justice, on the first Friday of July, we mark the day and take part in local events, such as memorial services or seminars to help raise awareness. Chester will be lit up in blue This year, we are taking part in the “Go Blue for Meso” campaign, helping to raise awareness of mesothelioma, an asbestos related cancer, by lighting up landmarks across the country in blue. So tonight, three of Chester’s landmarks will be lit in blue, Cheste ..read more

In two weeks, along with people all over the country, we will be marking Action Mesothelioma Day. The day, which is to raise awareness of the asbestos related cancer, mesothelioma, occurs on the first Friday of July each year and this year falls on the 1st of July. Light your town up This year we are taking part in Action Meso’s “Go Blue for Meso” campaign.  The campaign aims to raise awareness of mesothelioma and highlight the dangers of asbestos by lighting landmarks across the country in blue. We have managed to get our hometown, Chester, to light up three local landmarks in blue for t ..read more