Helpline 0800 169 2409 Email:[email protected]
Mesothelioma Support Services
Asbestos Support Groups
There are a number of Asbestos Support Groups (ASGs) across the UK providing services for people with asbestos related diseases; Mesothelioma is just one of those diseases. Many of the Asbestos Support Groups are registered as a charity and they all provide similar services. They provide information and support for anyone affected by asbestos particularly regarding benefits and compensation. Many provide the opportunity for people affected by asbestos to get together as part of a group, all work hard to raise awareness about the dangers of asbestos and improve services for current patients and their families. Mesothelioma UK surveyed all the ASGs known to us in order to increase our understanding of the services that they provide and we have continued to work closely with those that went on to form the Asbestos Support Groups Forum. A majority are based within the north of England and Scotland where local asbestos industry and consumption has been greatest. However, whilst based predominantly in the north all the ASGs are willing to provide advice and information by email or telephone to people living outside of their immediate geographical area.
Asbestos Action Tayside
Tel: 01382 225715
Website: www.asbestosactiontayside.org.uk Email: [email protected] Opening times: Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm
Asbestos Support West Midlands
Tel: 0121 678 8853
Website: www.asbestossupportwm.org Email: [email protected]
Opening times: Monday – Friday 9am until 5pm, the helpline is always staffed on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays between 10am and 2pm
Barrow Asbestos Related Disease Support
Tel. 01229 580305
Website: www.stmaryshospice.org.uk Email: [email protected]
Opening times: 09.00-16.30 Monday - Friday
Bradford Asbestos Victims Support Group (BAVSG)
Tel: 01273 393949
Email: [email protected] Opening times: 10.00-16.00 Monday to Friday
Helpline 0800 169 2409 Email:[email protected] Cheshire Asbestos Victims Support Group (CAVSG)
Tel: 01928 576641
Website: www.cavsg.co.uk Email: [email protected]
Opening times: 09.00 - 16.30 Monday - Friday
Clydebank Asbestos Group (CAG)
Tel: 0141 951 1008
Website: www.clydebankasbestos.org
Email: [email protected]
Opening times: 09.00-17.00 Monday – Thursday. 09.00-16.00 Friday
Clydeside Action on Asbestos (CAA)
Tel: 0800 587 7517
Opening times: 09.30 – 4.30 Monday - Friday
Derbyshire Asbestos Support Team
Tel: 01246 380415
Website: www.asbestossupport.co.uk Email: [email protected]
Opening times: 09.00–16.30 Monday - Friday
Greater Manchester Asbestos Victims Support Group
Tel: 0161 636 7555
Website: www.asbestos-victims-support.org Email: [email protected]
Opening times: 09.00-17.00 Monday - Friday
Hampshire Asbestos Support and Awareness Group
Tel: 07792 543426 or 07940 328637 Website: www.hasag.co.uk
Email: [email protected] or [email protected] Opening times: 09.00-17.00 Monday - Friday
Merseyside Asbestos Victims Support Group (MAVSG)
Tel: 0151 236 1895
Website: www.asbestosdiseases.org.uk Email: [email protected]
Opening times: 09.00-17.00 Monday - Thursday
Ridings Asbestos Support and Awareness Group (RASAG)
Tel: 0113 231 1010
Helpline 0800 169 2409 Email:[email protected]
Sheffield and Rotherham Asbestos Group (SARAG)
Tel: 01709 360672
Email: [email protected]
Opening times: 09.00 – 17.00 Monday - Friday
Mesothelioma Support Groups
In addition to the support available from the ASG there are an increasing number of Mesothelioma specific support groups. Some are run by the ASGs and held within their premises or nearby venue. Some hospitals and hospices have set up Mesothelioma support groups that are run by healthcare professionals. These are usually held monthly within the hospital, have relevant invited speakers and provide a friendly welcome to all those affected by Mesothelioma.
Brief details for all relevant support groups are listed below. For more detailed information please see our website www.mesothelioma.uk.com or call the Mesothelioma UK Helpline on Freephone 0800 169 2409. Please note: all these groups and their details are subject to change, therefore please check information before attending.
BARDS - Barrow Asbestos Related Disease Support Contact Tel. No. 01229 580305
Area: Cumbria
Services: A service for patients with any asbestos related disease, their families and carers. It is supported by St Mary's Hospice in collaboration with the Benefits Agency, Social Services, local unions, the Citizens Advice Bureau and expert lawyers – all of whom send representatives to the meetings. People suffering from any asbestos-related disease (and their families or carers) are welcome to attend any meetings and access free information and advice from experts as above. In addition BARDS funds the BARDS mesothelioma nurse, Jennifer Culley, and medical and nursing support is available in people’s homes if appropriate. BARDS holds a conference every other year and is a member of the national Forum of Asbestos Victims’ Support Groups.
For patients with asbestos related disease, their families and carers BARDS meets one day a month in St Mary's Hospice Social Care Centre, Lesser Kings Hall, Hartington Street, Barrow in Furness (next to Furness Gymnastics) 14.00–16.00.
Southend Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma Support Group – Contact no 01702 435555 x 6835 Email: [email protected],
[email protected] [email protected]
Meets1st Wednesday of each month at Coleman Street Chapel, 9 Colman Street, Southend on Sea, SS2 4AW.
Helpline 0800 169 2409 Email:[email protected]
Canvey,Basildon and Thurrock Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma SupportGroup -
Contact no. 0845 155 3111 x3168 Email [email protected]
[email protected] [email protected]
[email protected]@btuh.nhs.uk
Meets 3rd Thursday of each month at The Paddocks Community Centre, Long Road, Canvey Island, SS8 0JA.
Both the Southend and the Canvey, Basildon and Thurrock meetings begin at 12.30 and last two hours. Groups will be informal, social and informative. A Clinical Nurse Specialist will be available each meeting for support and follow up if necessary to provide rapid access to the system according to the need of the patient. A Benefit Advisor will be available each meeting to provide advice and help with financial matters to the patients and carers. Free lunch will be provided.
East & North Hertfordshire Lung Cancer/Mesothelioma Support Group. Contact: Patricia Swann 01707 328111 x3319 Elaine Dockree 01438 781217. Meets every 6 weeks at local hospital to provide support to patients/carers.
East Midlands Mesothelioma Support Group – Leicester. Contact Mesothelioma UK on Freephone 0800 169 2409. Meets on last Wednesday of the month at Coping with Cancer, Helen Webb House, 35 Westleigh Road, Leicester LE3 0HH. For patients and their carers affected by Mesothelloma. Provides useful information and friendly support.
East London Mesothelioma Support (ELMS)
Freephone Helpline: 0800 8766773 Between 17.00 – 22.00 - Area: East London (Newham, Tower Hamlets, Hackney). Services: support, guidance and information for patients, carers, relatives and friends.
Hampshire Asbestos Support & Awareness Group (HASAG) Contact: Lynne on 07940 328637 or Diane on 07792 543426
Support in Southampton
Meets 2nd Thursday of each month at 10:30 at St Marks Church, Archers Road, Southampton, S015 2LU.
Support in Portsmouth
HASAG also meets on 4th Thursday of each month at 10:30 at The Inn Lodge, Burrfields Road, Portsmouth, PO3 5HH. A friendly environment for sufferers of all asbestos related diseases and their families including the bereaved.
Hands of Time Mesothelioma Support Group - Contact Dimbleby Cancer Care on 0207 1885918. Richard Dimbleby Cancer Information & Support Service, 2nd Floor,
Helpline 0800 169 2409 Email:[email protected]
Mesothelioma Support Group at Guy's Hospital, London. Contact: Rachel Thomas 020 7188 4758.
Leeds Lung Cancer & Mesothelioma Patient Support (LAMPS) Support Group.
Contact John White on 0113 2067916. Meets 1st Wednesday of each month 13.30-15.00 at Robert Ogden Centre, St. James’ Hospital, Leeds.
Mesothelioma Self Help Group. Contact: 0191 263 7386 (Mick Knighton
Mesothelioma Research Fund). Aims to provide information and support to sufferers and their families. Offers a warm, friendly environment & welcomes all whose lives have been affected by Mesothelioma. Meets at Sir G B Hunter Memorial Hospital in
Wallsend on last Friday of each month 11.00-13.00. Refreshments provided.
Medway/Swale Lung Cancer & Mesothelioma Support & Information Group.
Contact: Frances McKay, Macmillan Lung /Mesothelioma Nurse, Medway Maritime Hospital on 01634 825212, Caroline Williams, Macmillan Lung Nurse, Medway Maritime Hospital on 01634 825391 or Pat Cameron, Domiciliary Team Nurse,
Wisdom Hospice on 01634 830456 - Offers a welcome environment with mutual support and information for Lung Cancer/ Mesothelioma patients /carers. Meets 1st Tuesday of each month from 15.00-16.30 at the Day Centre, Wisdom Hospice, St Williams Way, Rochester.
Mesothelioma Support Group at Royal Marsden Hospital, Surrey. Contact: Natalie Doyle on 0207 352 8171 Ext 1791 or Sonja Watson on 0208 661 3150
Refreshments are available & transport can be provided.
Mesothelioma Support Group at Papworth Hospital, Cambridge. Contact: Gerry Slade, Mesothelioma Specialist Nurse on 01480 830541 Ext 4889 - Meets at Papworth Hospital every 6 weeks for patients/ carers. A separate meeting every 6 weeks is
specifically for carers to share concerns and experiences with others in a similar situation.
Swindon & South West Support Groups. Contact: Mrs Pat Lewis – Tel: 01793
532995 - a group for widows /partners of asbestos sufferers.Meets monthly for friendship. mutual support & practical help for those nursing a family member with asbestos disease. Contact Janice Howell on 01793 813616 – for group for patients and their partners.
Meetsfor mutual information & support. Contact Maureen Seabrook 01822 880233 –for Wives & Widows GroupExeter.Meets monthly for friendship and mutual support.
West Hertfordshire Trust Support Group. Contact: Linda Charalambous on 01923 217010. For all West Hertfordshire Trust lung cancer / mesothelioma patients. Held on 1st Tuesday of each month 14.00-16.00at Stanborough Centre, 609 St Albans Road, Garston, Herts. WD25 9LJ.
Helpline 0800 169 2409 Email:[email protected] General Support
Mesothelioma Discussion Forum
The Macmillan Cancer Support Share website section includes a discussion forum for anyone affected by Mesothelioma.
Website Link:
www.share.macmillan.org.uk/share/forums/?tag=mesothelioma
Starting a Support Group
You can also access useful information regarding self help and support groups including guidelines for setting up a cancer self help or support groups on the Macmillan Cancer Support website.
Website Link:
www.macmillan.org.uk/HowWeCanHelp/CancerSupportGroups/StartYourOwnGroup.
aspx
YouthLine
If you know someone between 12 and 21 years old and someone close to them has
Mesothelioma and they need to talk they can call the Macmillan YouthLine on:
0808 808 00 00
Email: [email protected] Monday - Friday 09.00 – 21.00
MESOTHELIOMA UK PROVIDES SPECIALIST, IMPARTIAL, UP TO DATE SUPPORT AND INFORMATION
This information has been prepared for Mesothelioma UK by the Mesothelioma Nurse Action Team:- Author: Tracey Heseltine and Liz Darlison, Leicester. Date: June 2010
Download Mesothelioma UK information from www.mesothelioma.uk.com or to request a copy tel. 0800 169 2409. or email [email protected]
To sponsor or donate to Mesothelioma UK contact:
The Mesothelioma UK Charitable Trust:- [email protected]
Freephone:- 0800 169 2409
c/o The University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust,
