Hospital asbestos killed my doc wife
World-renowned medic’s death was caused by lethal substance, husband claims
The husband of a worldrenowned doctor who died of cancer believes she was poisoned by asbestos at a Scottish hospital.
Mum- of-two Mags Portman passed away last year aged just 44 after being diagnosed with mesothelioma – a condition contracted through exposure to killer dust in the overwhelming majority of cases.
Her partner Martin claims she was most likely exposed to asbestos while working as a junior doctor at Law Hospital, near Carluke, Lanarkshire.
When the faci l it y was demolished in 2009, about 1300 tons of the material was removed from the building.uilding.
And hundredsndreds of Scottish hospitals containingontaining asbestos continue to treat patients despite warnings off a “hidden epidemic”.
Mar tin said: “It was a complete shockhock for us when Mags was diagnosed. It was so unexpected,cted, it was the least l ikelyly diagnostdiagnosticic outcome wee could imagine, even thoughugh the scans suggested mesothelioma.
“That is a condition you expect to f ind in dock work er s , sh ipbu i lder s , electricians,s, people who have been employedoyed in industrial environments.nts.
“So it sentnt us into a panic, to be honest. We went through a process of trying to work out everywheree we had been, all the buildings. We even had our own house tested.
“We werere worried about the children obviously ass well – you becomeome paranoid about dust.””
Mags studied medicine at Glasgow University a n d graduated in 1998.
She spentt the next f ive years workingking in Scotlandd and got marrieded to
Martin. DuringDu that time, she was basbased at a number of hospitals, hospital including Law. She alsoa worked for the Steve RetsonR Project, a specialistspeci sexual health serviceser for gay and bi sexua l men at theth city’s Sandyford Initiative. Ini She went on to ggain international recognition rec for her work wor with HIV sufferers. Mags M was diagnosed with mesothelioma in January Janu 2017 and died in FFebruary last year, leaving lea Mar tin to bring br up their sons
Edward, 12, and Freddie, nine. Martin added: “It was after talking to another consultant who had some knowledge of the hospitals that Mags had worked at in Scotland that she finally worked out that it was most likely Law Hospital that was the culprit.
“We have taken up a case with a solicitor and we are waiting on tests coming back before deciding what to do next.
“Although Mags didn’t feel unduly angr y about what happened, there’s a sense of injustice. This was an avoidable death.
“She worked in an area of medicine that was preoccupied by prevention and yet she had a terminal diagnosis f rom something that was preventable.
“Mags went to work and assumed she was safe. There was no way she could have known there might be a safety problem.”
Lawyers Irwin Mitchell are now investigating the case.
Ian Toft, head of the firm’s asbestos-related disease team in Leeds, said: “Mesothelioma is indiscriminate. It can affect everybody.
“Asbestos is in lots of public buildings, including schools, libraries and hospitals.
“Although it’s been banned for about 20 years, so you shouldn’t
get it in newer buildings, there’s still a lot of it around.”
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer, with about 2500 diagnoses in the UK each year.
Nine in 10 cases are linked to exposure to asbestos, according to Mesothelioma UK.
In 2017, the Sunday Mail revealed asbestos was present in hundreds of hospitals in Scotland.
It was found in 225 buildings used by patients across the country’s regional NHS boards.
Labour’s health spokeswoman Monica Lennon has demanded action from Scottish Government ministers. She said: “Deadly asbestos is present in hundreds of NHS sites in Scotland.
“It’s no longer reassuring to hear that it is safe if undisturbed because there is a growing maintenance backlog in our hospitals. How can we have confidence that safety isn’t being compromised?
“Exposure to fibres could put workers and patients at risk.
“Deadly cancers such as mesothelioma can take decades to develop, so it’s no wonder that campaigners fear a ticking time bomb.
“The Scottish Government must ensure that health boards have proper asbestos management plans in place and liaise with trade unions.
“The buck stops with ministers at Holyrood to get a grip on the repair and maintenance bill that has ballooned beyond £1billion.”
John Paterson, NHS Lanarkshire director of property and support services, said: “It is important to stress that asbestos is considered managed and genera l ly not unsafe if it is intact and not disturbed.
“There are strict rules and regulations in place so that asbestos is registered and safely contained.
“We continue to work to ensure that our estate remains a safe environment for all patients and staff. We carry out annual asbestos monitoring survey reports through our specialist contractor. When building or other work is carried out, experts are brought in to properly and safely dispose of it.
“We are unable to comment on the case as legal proceedings are ongoing.”
The Scottish Government said: “We extend our sympathies to Mr Portman on the loss of his wife.
“The Scottish Government expects health boards to take the issue of the handl ing of asbestos within NHS buildings ver y seriously and fol low Health and Safety Executive recommendations.”
Asbestos was widely used in the construction of public buildings in the second half of the 20th century.
Last week, a doctor and mother of two with just months left to live warned of a“hidden epidemic” of asbestos- related cancers among NHS staff and patients because hospitals have failed to properly handle the toxic material. Kate Richmond, 44, has spoken out to raise awareness after she won a legal case against the NHS for negligently exposing her to asbestos while she was working as a medical student and junior doctor.
She has described how maintenance staff removed asbestos ceiling tiles with no protective measures, allowing dust and debris to fall on to wards where patients were in their beds and staff were working.
Managers at the Walsgrave Hospital in Coventry failed to heed warnings by workers that they were putting people at risk.
We tried to work out everywhere we had been. We even had our own house tested