 Jersey residents diagnosed with a rare lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos are now eligible for up to £92,000 in government compensation.
Anyone who suffers from mesothelioma and was exposed to asbestos on the island can apply to the government. The scheme, announced in November 2018, brings Jersey in line with the UK, which has had a compensation scheme for more than a decade. The amount of money allocated will be based on age at diagnosis. Social Security Minister Deputy Judy Martin said the application process was designed to be "as quick and easy as possible" to ensure anyone with the disease receives the money "without delay". What is mesothelioma?This rare form of lung cancer is usually caused by exposure to asbestos - a group of microscopic mineral fibres once commonly used in construction and completely banned in 1999. Mesothelioma mainly affects the lining of the lungs but can also affect the lining of the tummy, heart or testicles. When the fibres are inhaled they become trapped in the lungs, gradually damaging them. It often takes more than 20 years after asbestos exposure for mesothelioma to develop. Those aged 37 or under will receive the maximum amount of £92,259, with the amount reducing as applicants get older. Those aged 77 or older will get £14,334. Close family members of people who have died as a result of the disease can apply too, with the money also staggered based on age at time of death. They will receive £48,013 for anyone who died aged 37 or younger, down to £7,949 for those 67 or older. The change came about as a result of the work of campaigner Brian Coutanche, who died from the disease in July 2018 after being exposed to asbestos working in construction for the States of Jersey. A online petition on the official government website after his death garnered more than 1,300 signatures and led to unanimous approval of the scheme by the States in November.
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The below has been provided to us by the Health & Safety Executive
Britain’s workplace regulator has assembled a team of specialists to assist the Government’s national effort to get personal protective equipment (PPE) to frontline health care workers fighting the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Supporting the Government’s PPE Plan, the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) PPE Unit is made up of regulatory inspectors, policy makers and scientists. It has been evaluating materials and specifications against relevant PPE requirements, to rapidly provide agreement that new and novel sources of supply have been properly assessed and can be deployed to frontline workers without unnecessary delay. Working closely with the Department for Health and Social Care, as well as Public Health England, the NHS and other government departments, HSE’s expertise in managing workplace risk combined with its knowledge of PPE material science and regulations is helping the Government’s aims to ensure there is a continued supply to where PPE is needed. The unprecedented global demand for PPE during the coronavirus pandemic has meant that the UK is sourcing products from new suppliers and HSE is providing the reassurance that these are of the right quality to protect NHS workers. Rick Brunt, Head of Operational Strategy, explains: “For PPE to be effective and provide protection to the worker, it’s not just a question of supply. It must also be suitable for the task in hand and we need to be assured that protective equipment will actually protect people. “At this time of unprecedented national emergency, we’re working very hard with other agencies to ensure those maximising supply of PPE have our support and assurance when they need it. Our advice is grounded in science and experience, not just our understanding of the regulations. “We want to ensure that any PPE destined for our frontline workers, regardless of its provenance, is appropriately tested so that we know it will serve its purpose.”  The West Essex Clinical Commissioning Group says "demand is outstripping supply" as frontline workers battle the coronavirus pandemic.
It is also appealing to the county's building companies and dentists to "help bolster the national supplies". The group runs 32 GP practices across Harlow, Uttlesford and Epping Forest. A wish list drawn up by the West Essex CCG of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) includes disposable aprons and gloves, single use face masks, plastic goggles and scrubs - as well as alcohol-based hand sanitiser, liquid soap and paper hand towels. CCG chair Rob Gerlis said: "The World Health Organisation has identified that the current global stockpile of PPE is insufficient, particularly for medical masks and respirators; the supply of gloves, gowns and goggles is soon expected to be insufficient also. "The NHS supply chain has been providing PPE and is increasing its capacity but demand is currently outstripping supply." He said "piles of commercial PPE stocks lay idle" within firms that have had to close temporarily during the outbreak, "such as dentists, car body repair shops, building supplies and asbestos companies." "This is equipment that NHS and care organisations in West Essex could be using to bolster the national supplies," Dr Gerlis added. Any business that can offer help is asked to contact the West Essex CCG |
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VAT Number - 350375414