THE asbestos timebomb has claimed the lives of scores of former York Carriageworks employees over the years.

But victims and their families never felt they had enough support and representation - until the launch earlier this year of a York support group.

Now the group's founder, solicitor Kim Daniells, has spoken of its achievements in 2006 and its ambitious plans to step up its activities in 2007.

She also thanked The Press for keeping York's asbestos tragedy in the limelight, saying: "The asbestos legacy in York will get worse before it gets better and we owe it to those we have lost to ensure that this tragedy is not forgotten."

She said the support group had campaigned this year about the availability of a drug treatment for the disease mesothelioma, held two well-attended public meetings at which the implications of the cancer for people in the area had been discussed and opened a dialogue with medical personnel at York Hospital over mesothelioma treatment.

"We had a meeting with Jo Love, the Specialist Lung Nurse at the hospital recently," she said.

A self help group was also being formed, with its first meeting due to take place soon, and contact had been made with other asbestos support groups throughout the country to gain from their experiences and also to offer support and assistance to people from York who had moved elsewhere.

"We will be liaising with the British Lung Foundation, Mesothelioma UK and York Hospital in respect of Action Mesothelioma Day which will be held on February 27."

The group would also be responding soon to the Mesothelioma Framework, a discussion document which was drafting advice to the NHS on how to organise services for mesothelioma patients to improve standards of care.

She said that in June, the House of Lords would consider a legal case concerning pleural plaques - scarring of the lungs caused by exposure to asbestos.

"At present individuals with non-disabling pleural plaques are unable to recover any compensation. Currently all claims for damages for pleural plaques are on hold pending the outcome of that judgment. Whatever the outcome of that hearing, the Support Group will need to be on hand to answer queries and to provide advice to those affected."

She said further legal developments were also likely for people suffering from non-disabling asbestosis and pleural thickening.

Fresh hope for victims

ASBESTOS victims in York have been given fresh hope that the only effective treatment for their condition might remain available on the NHS after all.

The Press reported earlier this year how new medicine guidelines might deny them Alimta, a drug which improved life expectancy significantly and also boosted patients' quality of life.

The preliminary guidelines, issued by the National Institute of Health & Clinical Excellence (NICE), indicated that although Alimta was effective, the cost could not be justified.

But Kim Daniells said today that an appeal panel had now upheld three strands of an appeal lodged by the drug's manufacturer, Ely Lilley & Company Limited, and the case will be reviewed next year by NICE's appraisal committee. She welcomed the development, saying: "This offers a glimmer of hope to those affected by this devastating condition. The incidence of mesothelioma will increase in the coming years and it is imperative that all treatment options are kept open.

"We have campaigned actively for this treatment to be made available to mesothelioma sufferers who are considered suitable to undergo the treatment. If NICE do not approve the treatment, it will be a devastating blow to mesothelioma sufferers."