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Rowen continues to speak up for mesothelioma sufferers
Date article online: 13/07/2006
Rochdale MP Paul Rowen has continued to campaign for justice for all victims of mesothelioma. Paul, a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Asbestos has been constantly speaking up to get a fair deal for sufferers in Rochdale. Rochdale was once home to the biggest asbestos factory in the world and the town is affected by this disease more than many across the country.
This week, Paul questioned Jim Murphy MP, the Minister for Work and Pensions, regarding compensation for mesothelioma victims. Paul signed Early Day Motion 2252, which protested against a decision that affected the compensation rights of mesothelioma victims. This was one of the factors that led to a reversal of the decision, which has been welcomed by Paul. Paul is now campaigning to extend the compensation, particularly to those people, mainly women, who came into contact with such asbestos fibres, perhaps through washing their husband's work clothes or from their hair or skin.
Paul said: "This is a dreadful illness and the awful legacy extends to families of workers. The Government have got to recognise that mesothelioma victims could have come into contact with asbestos in secondary ways such as washing clothes of their partners or in other ways. I feel that these people are also entitled to compensation and I am glad to see that this is being reviewed in the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Scheme review, I await the findings with interest."
Meanwhile, Paul is continuing to push for the best drugs to be available for victims of mesothelioma. Victim groups were outraged last month when the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) announced that a vital drug, Alimta, in the fight against mesothelioma will be withdrawn - Alimta can extend and improve the quality of mesothelioma sufferers lives.
Paul said: "This was a penny pinching decision and I have written to NICE asking what they recommend as an alternative drug for mesothelioma sufferers if they think it is not cost effective. If they can't answer this question, are they saying that there should be no treatment at all? The annual number of deaths is going up and is set to peak at around 2500 in 2115. I will also be meeting representatives of Lilly who produce the drug Alimta, they plan to appeal against the NICE decision and I fully back them."
This week, Paul questioned Jim Murphy MP, the Minister for Work and Pensions, regarding compensation for mesothelioma victims. Paul signed Early Day Motion 2252, which protested against a decision that affected the compensation rights of mesothelioma victims. This was one of the factors that led to a reversal of the decision, which has been welcomed by Paul. Paul is now campaigning to extend the compensation, particularly to those people, mainly women, who came into contact with such asbestos fibres, perhaps through washing their husband's work clothes or from their hair or skin.
Paul said: "This is a dreadful illness and the awful legacy extends to families of workers. The Government have got to recognise that mesothelioma victims could have come into contact with asbestos in secondary ways such as washing clothes of their partners or in other ways. I feel that these people are also entitled to compensation and I am glad to see that this is being reviewed in the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Scheme review, I await the findings with interest."
Meanwhile, Paul is continuing to push for the best drugs to be available for victims of mesothelioma. Victim groups were outraged last month when the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) announced that a vital drug, Alimta, in the fight against mesothelioma will be withdrawn - Alimta can extend and improve the quality of mesothelioma sufferers lives.
Paul said: "This was a penny pinching decision and I have written to NICE asking what they recommend as an alternative drug for mesothelioma sufferers if they think it is not cost effective. If they can't answer this question, are they saying that there should be no treatment at all? The annual number of deaths is going up and is set to peak at around 2500 in 2115. I will also be meeting representatives of Lilly who produce the drug Alimta, they plan to appeal against the NICE decision and I fully back them."
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