Mesothelioma is a terminal chest cancer that develops between 15 and 60 years after exposure to asbestos.
The British Lung Foundation campaigns to raise awareness of mesothelioma and to improve the treatment and care of people who are affected by this cruel cancer. This campaigning culminates each year on Action Mesothelioma Day, which took place this year on Friday 27th February.
Action Mesothelioma Day 2009
A range of Action Mesothelioma Day events took place throughout the UK to mark Action Mesothelioma Day 2009 including a parliamentary reception at the House of Commons. To find out more about this click here.
The results of a survey of the experiences of patients and carers affected by mesothelioma were also launched on Action Mesothelioma Day. To read the results of this survey please click here. If you live in Wales you can still support this campaign by emailing your Assembly Member to ask them to sign a Statement of Opinion about Action Mesothelioma Day.
The launch of the Action Mesothelioma Day Campaign
To mark the first Action Mesothelioma Day in 2006, the British Lung Foundation delivered the Mesothelioma Charter to 10 Downing Street with more than 14,000 signatures. The Charter calls for improved care and treatment for mesothelioma patients, better protection for employees and more funding for research. The British Lung Foundation continues to focus it’s campaigning around the Charter which you can sign by clicking here.
Queen's speech brings mesothelioma campaign success
Since 2006 the British Lung Foundation has been campaigning for coroner's inquiries following a death from mesothelioma to be made more sensitive to the needs of the bereaved.
Due to the link to asbestos, when someone dies from mesothelioma it is required that a coroner launches an inquiry. However, when the death from mesothelioma occurs outside of normal working hours the bereaved can be visited by uniformed police in a marked police car. Many have expressed to the BLF that being questioned in this way, sometimes in the middle of the night, can lead them to feel under suspicion.
We are therefore delighted that the Government has now pledged to pass the Coroners and Justice Bill, which will create a Chief Coroner to enforce national standards and ensure good service for bereaved families.
We would like to thank everyone who supported our campaign on this issue by e-mailing their MP and by signing the petition on 10 Downing Street website.
The BLF will continue to campaign to ensure that the Bill will lead to improvements in the way that mesothelioma inquiries are carried out and we will keep you informed on this progress.
If you would like to read more about our campaigning on this issue then please click here to read our 'Unnatural Death' report.
Click here for details of other British Lung Foundation campaigns.
The Action Mesothelioma Campaign is kindly being sponsored by a number of organisations including; Asbestos Control & Abatement Division (ACAD); Leigh Day & Co; Moore Blatch Resolve LLP; and Simpson Millar LLP.
