Hospices provide invaluable assistance and support to those suffering with mesothelioma, asbestos related lung cancer, pleural thickening and other asbestos related diseases. In addition to supporting the patient, hospices also provide guidance and support to their families.
They are usually run as independent charities or charitable trusts and receive little or no funding from the NHS or local authorities, securing a large proportion of their funding from charitable donations. When an asbestos compensation claim is made, the hospice's care costs can also be included so they can be reimbursed.
Get in touch with our asbestos disease solicitors for a free initial consultation.
When someone needs to go into a hospice as a result of an asbestos related disease, legal advice should be sought to consider if a claim for compensation can be made.
If a loved one that you are claiming for passes away as a result of an asbestos related disease, then it is important that the local coroner is notified and that a post-mortem takes place. The lung tissue samples can be analysed for asbestos bodies which can, together with exposure history, prove an asbestos disease hospice claim. It is important that the tissue samples are preserved until the conclusion of the legal claim.
We provide an initial consultation free of charge. At that meeting, we can discuss and agree together how to fund an asbestos compensation claim. In the majority of cases, we can offer Conditional Fee Agreements (CFAs or “no win, no fee”).
Partner, Asbestos
A hospice care claim for asbestos related diseases is the legal process by which hospices can recover the costs of caring for patients suffering from diseases caused by exposure to asbestos, such as mesothelioma, pleural thickening, and asbestos related lung cancer.
When you or a loved one has to go into a hospice due to an asbestos related disease, the costs incurred by the hospice can be significant. Under UK law, when a claim for compensation is made on behalf of the patient against the negligent party (usually an employer or product manufacturer responsible for the asbestos exposure), the hospice's care costs can also be included as part of the claim.
The money generally comes from the insurance company of the negligent party. Once the claim is successful, compensation is awarded to the patient or their family, and the hospice is reimbursed for the care it provides. The compensation for the client is not reduced as a result of this and is added separately to the claim. This system ensures that hospices, many of which are charitable organisations, are not unduly burdened financially when providing vital end-of-life care for asbestos disease sufferers.
Although hospice care is free to the patient, there is still a cost to the hospice in providing that care. As specialists in asbestos related hospice care claims, we act for many people who are receiving hospice care due to their diagnosis of an asbestos related disease.
When we act for someone suffering from an asbestos related disease who has had some hospice care or support, we look to include the hospice’s costs, excluding any NHS-funded element, in the compensation claim. If the claim is successful, we can then reimburse the hospice their charitable outlay.
In successful claims, these sums are paid by the defendant held responsible for causing the asbestos exposure and for causing the asbestos related disease that led to the hospice care claim.
Recovering costs incurred by the hospice in a compensation claim will not reduce or increase the compensation awarded to the mesothelioma sufferer or their family.
It is incredibly important for the mesothelioma and asbestos claims team at Boyes Turner that we can recover hospice costs for our clients to reimburse them, which enables them to continue their invaluable work meeting local community needs.
So far, the team has recovered over £30,000 for Sue Ryder, just one of the many organisations we support. The money recovered for Sue Ryder in compensation claims we have dealt with has helped Sue Ryder provide more expert palliative care for people at the end of their life.
Our team will contact the hospice directly and ask them to provide a letter or statement giving details of:
We include the cost of the hospice care within the claim for financial losses on the understanding that any sums recovered for the hospice are paid directly to the hospice at the conclusion of the case.
If the claim is successful, our team will make sure that the hospice receives payment of the sum agreed or awarded in respect of the charitable hospice costs. This does not have an impact on the compensation paid to you.
The amount recovered for the hospice will be paid direct to the hospice at the conclusion of the claim.
A number of different forms of asbestos have been restricted since the 1970s, with the last being banned in 1999. If your employer exposed you to asbestos and failed to follow regulations around the use of asbestos, you could be entitled to compensation if you later develop an asbestos related disease. Usually it is the company’s insurers who pay the compensation due in the event of a successful claim, so even if the company no longer exists, you can still make a compensation claim if we can trace the company’s former insurers.
A hospice care claim looks to cover the cost of hospice care services provided to patients suffering from asbestos related diseases, such as mesothelioma and asbestos related lung cancer. These claims help ensure that hospices are reimbursed for the care they give to asbestos victims.
The hospice that provided the care usually receives the compensation directly. If a family has already paid for the hospice care, they may be reimbursed through the claim.
For asbestos related diseases, the claim usually must be made within three years from the date of diagnosis. However, for hospice claims, the window might differ since it's about the cost of care rather than the disease itself.
Yes, it's possible. Even if the person affected didn't claim compensation for their asbestos related disease during their lifetime, a claim for hospice care can still be pursued after their passing.
We recovered £268,000 for the partner of former carpenter Stephen*, as well as over £16,000 for Oakhaven hospice, an incredible charity that provided in-patient care to Stephen for over six weeks whilst he was suffering from the asbestos related cancer, mesothelioma.
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Aug 2024
Right from the outset of my 1st engagement with Melloney & her team (on April 23) she has had my fullest confidence. She clearly explained what would be involved in taking forward my claim in relation to my Father's death due to asbestos exposure. But she was equally clear in ensuring that I that knew the challenges that we might face. She also took the time to explain the whole process to my 81-year-old Mother during a number of Home visits. In this her professional but fully approachable manner was key in allaying my Mother's concerns and giving her faith in us taking the claim forward. When we did hit numerous challenges Melloney was quick to keep me informed, provide reassurance and detail options for the next steps.
When we first got in touch with Boyes Turner in the wake of my dad's mesothelioma diagnosis, we were not expecting to be able to make a claim due to the length of time that had passed since he was exposted to asbestos. However, thanks to the knowledge and professionalism of Martin Anderson, we were not only able to pursue that claim but win it, ensuring total financial security for my dad as his health sadly declines. We were so impressed by Martin's patience, sensitivity and promptness in dealing with every aspect of the process and would have no hesitation in recommending him and Boyes Turner to anyone hoping to pursue a similar claim.
After my diagnosis and starting my treatment for asbestosis I chose the services of Boyes Turner LLP to help me and my family through the claim system. I had the good fortune to be introduced to Melloney Harbutt as my lead solicitor. At a time when I least wanted additional stress and anxiety, her clear compassionate, honest legal knowledge and personal guidance prevailed throughout.
At the start of our journey to say we were apprehensive and nervous would be a huge understatement. Laura Magson on our first meeting, completely reassured us with her professional yet personable and friendly manner. She guided us through each step of the process ensuring we were completely at ease and fully understood every step. Laura and her team at Boyes Turner were always 100% responsive and at no point were we ever made to feel like we were wasting her time with our endless questions! Laura successfully settled our claim with an outstanding result which enables us to move forward on this journey knowing we have financial security. For anyone needing legal representation in this field we would without hesitation recommend Laura Magson and her team.
After much hesitation regarding making a claim and speaking to HASAG. I found Boyes Turner one of HASAG's approved solicitors, I met Melloney who explained the process in plain English, and we started the ball rolling, some of the reports were difficult to come to terms with, but all through the process Melloney was supportive and understanding. As there were multiple parties involved the process took some time which was frustrating, but the final result was very satisfactory.
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Legal Director
Associate Solicitor
Solicitor
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