Asbestos-related illness might sound like a problem from the past, but, in reality, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Medical conditions related to asbestos inhalation can appear decades after exposure. Hundreds of people still die every year in the UK from asbestos-related illnesses and new patients are diagnosed all the time.

You might think that it’ll never happen to you, but one look at the statistics behind accidents at work paints a shocking picture. In a 12-month period during 2011 and 2012, 176 people were killed in the course of their work and over 1.1 million suffered from a work-related illness. Add to that 111,000 reported injuries at work and 27 million working days lost and it’s clear that work-related injuries and illnesses aren’t as uncommon as you might think.

The Francis Enquiry released in Feb 2013 painted a damning picture of the NHS. No fewer than 290 recommendations were made in the report. The lack of standards exposed during the investigation has inevitably led to accusations of negligence and claims of poor care by NHS patients.

No matter whether you’re treated in the private or public sector, everyone has a right to a reasonable standard of care. In some cases, this hasn’t happened. Fortunately, if you feel that you were poorly treated, there is something you can do about it – you can make a claim for compensation. The claims procedure can be complicated but with the help of an expert personal injury solicitor, you can get what you’re owed.