The family of Geoffrey King, a beloved grandfather and longtime hospital porter, has received a significant six-figure settlement after he passed away from mesothelioma, a deadly cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Mr. King spent more than 20 years working at Poole Hospital in Dorset, only to develop the illness a few years after retiring.
An inquest into the 76-year-old’s death confirmed that he died of industrial disease, specifically mesothelioma, linked to asbestos. Despite this, University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust settled the claim without admitting liability. This comes amidst revelations from a Freedom of Information request that exposed multiple high-risk asbestos contamination areas within the hospital.
Sarah Rodway, Mr. King’s daughter, expressed profound grief and frustration over the lack of answers regarding his exposure. “Dad was liked by everyone,” she said. “Losing him so suddenly to a preventable disease has been devastating. Four years on, we still struggle to come to terms with his death.”
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Mr. King worked as a porter from 1995 until retiring in 2016, after which he appeared healthy. However, five years later, he began experiencing severe respiratory symptoms and was admitted to the very hospital where he had worked. He passed away in December 2021.
Following his death, legal proceedings revealed that areas of Poole Hospital—especially B Block’s boiler room—contained visibly damaged, unsealed asbestos materials. A 2013 survey highlighted numerous dangerous asbestos hazards in this section, recommending immediate cleaning and restricted access. Yet, the family’s legal team disclosed that no concrete actions or further disclosures about remediation efforts had been provided by the hospital.
Leigh Day, the law firm representing the King family, stated there remain unanswered questions around the hospital’s handling of asbestos risks. Partner Ewan Tant stressed, “The evidence strongly suggests Geoffrey was exposed to asbestos at work. Documents show hazardous conditions persisted for years, and the coroner confirmed his death was due to industrial disease.”
Approximately 2,500 people in the UK are diagnosed with mesothelioma annually, often many years after asbestos exposure. The case underscores ongoing concerns about asbestos safety in UK hospitals and the need for stricter controls to prevent similar tragedies.