PAUL ROUTLEDGE

Families face threat to pit disease cash

THE countdown on the wall of my home office is advancing most satisfactorily.

Crossed-out numbers massively outnumber those remaining. The jailbird’s chart began at Day 84 of Boris Johnson’s original twelve-week lockdown, and now it’s down to 20.

Less than three weeks to go, and I’m still here with no symptoms of the dreaded coronavirus. Cross

THE pandemic may deny families of ex-miners the chance to claim payouts for industrial disease.

Twenty Labour MPS representing former mining towns and villages have called for Health Secretary Matt Hancock to make sure any industrial diseases are recorded on death certificates if an ex-miner dies of suspected Covid-19.

Years of coal dust inhalation has left former pitmen with damaged lungs, making them incredibly vulnerable to coronavirus.

Legislation on the completion of death certificates has been relaxed in the pandemic leaving families fearful that this may prevent the referral of cases where industrial disease may have been a contributing factor in a death.

If underlying industrial diseases are not recorded on death certificates, it becomes almost impossible for grieving families to claim compensation.

Barnsley East MP Stephanie Peacock said: “Many miners suffered lung disease. Under current guidelines families will be robbed of a chance to claim. This injustice needs urgent attention.”

Coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, a result of coal dust inhalation, has caused an average of 130 deaths per year over the last decade.

This only accounts for the cases assessed as meeting the criteria for industrial disease. Campaigners say misdiagnoses and inaccuracies on death certificates have caused untold suffering to families.

The Department of Health and Social Care said: ‘’We understand the concerns of former coal miners and their families.’’