Sheffield law firm recoups more than £220,000 to help local hospices survive

Irwin Mitchell has recouped the cash to support the work of hospices following legal cases where patients have died from mesothelioma – a form of terminal cancer linked to asbestos.

Britain’s hospices are facing their own battle for survival with the country’s charity sector facing a financial crisis because of the coronavirus pandemic which has seen charity shops closed and major fundraising events cancelled.

UK charities have estimated they face a £4 billion shortfall with major organisations warning of serious drops in income, potentially hitting some of society’s most vulnerable people when they need help the most. So severe has been the extent of the income reduction for some hospices as a consequence of the COVID19 crisis, that there are even reports of hospices being closed to make financial savings.

Now relatives of loved ones cared for in hospices before their death are helping to provide a much-needed funding boost, allowing them to maintain their vital services.

Since the beginning of 2020 alone, national law firm Irwin Mitchell has recovered more than £220,000 to support the work of hospices following legal cases where patients have died from mesothelioma – a form of terminal cancer linked to asbestos, often decades previously.

Adrian Budgen, partner and specialist asbestos-related disease lawyer at the Sheffield office of Irwin Mitchell, who has recovered tens of thousands of pounds for hospices, says: “Hospices are vital in providing frontline care to almost 250,000 vulnerable people and their relatives each year at a very sensitive and emotional time for families.

“Many hospices are now facing their own challenges to survive and keep on providing quality end-of-life care.

“We hope that the funding we have managed to recover for hospices from our clients’ claims means sites across the country can keep providing the specialist care so many people rely on, particularly in these unprecedented times.”

It was in 2010 that Irwin Mitchell began to recover funds for hospices following a landmark judgment the law firm secured which ruled that the insurers of a company responsible for the death of a worker from an asbestos-related disease should contribute to the cost of the care provided to the victim by the hospice.

Adrian Budgen adds: “Nothing can ever make up for the death of a loved one but the families we support are always very clear that, where possible, they want the hospice that provided exceptional care to their loved one to benefit.

“Times are incredibly challenging for the charity sector which is reliant on the generosity of communities. It is therefore essential that we are able to continue to provide financial support for our amazing hospices and their dedicated staff to ensure they can continue to care for people with empathy and dignity at such a difficult time.”