Campaign against closure of Phoenix House


Asbestos support groups, clinicians and charities have raised their concerns about the Department for Work and Pension’s proposal to close its specialist office — Phoenix House — in Barrow-in-Furness in March 2018. 


The groups say the closure would have a detrimental effect on the well-being of mesothelioma patients and their families and are urging work and pensions secretary Damian Green to reconsider. They say that the number of people newly diagnosed with the asbestos-related cancer is increasing and most mesothelioma patients are entitled to claim IIDB and other benefits administered by specialist staff at Phoenix House. 


They are concerned that closure would lead to a permanent loss of valuable expertise that would harm the service to mesothelioma patients and impact heavily on the health and well-being of people living with mesothelioma.