Retired Nurse Fights Legal Battle Over Asbestos Exposure

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News Summary

Monica Johnston, a retired nurse from Bangor, is fighting back against her mesothelioma diagnosis caused by years of asbestos exposure while working at the Royal Victoria Hospital. Despite recent medical challenges, she aims to raise awareness about the dangers of asbestos and advocate for better protections for healthcare workers. Johnston’s legal claim against the Belfast Trust highlights the urgent need for proactive measures to combat occupational hazards in healthcare environments.

Retired Nurse Fights Back Against Asbestos Exposure

Monica Johnston, a retired nurse from Bangor, has bravely initiated legal proceedings against the Belfast Trust following a devastating diagnosis of *mesothelioma*, a fatal cancer linked to asbestos exposure. The retired healthcare professional alleges that her harrowing battle with this lethal illness is the result of five decades spent working at the Royal Victoria Hospital, a facility deeply entwined with the city’s healthcare history.

A Troubling Diagnosis

In January 2023, Johnston received the crushing news of her mesothelioma diagnosis. However, the symptoms had been plaguing her since November 2021, starting with occasional breathlessness before culminating in a dramatic collapse at work due to excruciating chest pain. Despite her years as a dedicated nurse, Johnston had never faced serious health problems and had never been a smoker. For a long time, her medical journey included various consultations and examinations before reaching the unfortunate conclusion of *mesothelioma*, a disease notorious for its lengthy development period, often taking decades to manifest.

Historical Context of Asbestos Use

As a nurse who began her career in 1977, Johnston witnessed firsthand the environment in which she was working. The Royal Victoria Hospital, built in the 1950s, underwent numerous renovations, including actions to remove asbestos, once deemed a safe material for insulation before its dangers became widely recognized. As a result of these practices, health authorities in Northern Ireland have identified 148 sites within the Belfast Health Trust buildings that still contain asbestos materials, classified as “low risk,” though the threat remains palpable, given the alarming number of 699 asbestos-related deaths recorded between 2014 and 2023 in the region.

A Call for Greater Awareness

In addition to seeking legal redress, Johnston aims to shed light on the latent dangers of asbestos exposure, emphasizing the desperate need for *increased public awareness* about the risks associated with this insidious material. The Department of Health maintains stringent regulations regarding the management of asbestos, but the legacy of its historical use continues to affect many healthcare professionals who may unknowingly have been exposed. She advocates for better safeguards and proactive measures to protect current and future healthcare workers from similar hazards.

The Path Forward

To pursue her case, Johnston retained Thompsons NI Solicitors to investigate her prolonged exposure to asbestos and its connection to her illness. The urgency of identifying cases like hers cannot be overstated, according to legal experts. Johnston’s legal claim asserts that her mesothelioma diagnosis is directly attributable to her occupational exposure during her tenure at the hospital. Many of the accommodation blocks where she lived as a nurse were built with asbestos, raising concerns among current health officials as some of these facilities are slated for redevelopment.

Healthcare Initiatives and Support

Since 2014, Northern Ireland has invested over £10 million into asbestos removal projects in healthcare buildings, illustrating a commitment to ensuring safer environments for staff and patients. However, despite these efforts, the emotional and physical toll on individuals like Johnston is profoundly serious. Following her diagnosis, she has undergone multiple medical procedures, including a biopsy and pleurodesis, and is now striving to regain a semblance of her previous life, aided by a walking frame.

Conclusion

Though Johnston has expressed that “it’s too late for me,” her desire to share her story reflects a selfless goal to help others recognize and avoid the hazards associated with asbestos. The sad reality is that once the symptoms of *mesothelioma* arrive, it’s often a race against time, making awareness and preventive measures all the more critical in safeguarding health in work environments across the board. As Johnston continues her journey toward recovery, her advocacy may one day inspire meaningful change that protects future generations of healthcare workers from the same fate.