Caerphilly’s Labour AM Jeff Cuthbert has welcomed a proposed to allow the NHS in Wales to recover the cost of treatment for asbestos-related diseases.
Fellow Labour AM Mick Antoniw will introduce a draft bill to the Assembly next week that seeks to redress years of suffering by people who have worked with asbestos and contracted diseases such as mesothelioma (cancer of the lining of the lungs) as a result.
Mr Cuthbert said: “As a lifelong trade unionist, I very much applaud my colleague Mick Antoniw on bringing this important legislation forward.
“Over the years, employees who have worked with asbestos have been at risk of developing serious long-term health complications.
“This places a considerable financial burden on the Welsh NHS and it is right that it should be able to recover such costs from employers when the latter are proven to have been negligent.
“The money recovered can then be re-allocated to the benefit of sufferers of asbestos-caused diseases and their families.”
If you live in the Caerphilly constituency and would like to speak to Mr Cuthbert about this issue, you can contact him on 01443 838 542 (Gilfach office) or 029 2089 8314 (Cardiff Bay office).