30 N E HEALTH OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES: Advertising FeatureInsurers and self-insured companies in heavy industry arecounting the cost <strong>of</strong> a landmark decision passed down atNewcastle Crown Court earlier this year.<strong>The</strong> decision related <strong>to</strong> the medical cond<strong>it</strong>ion, PleuralPlaques, which is scarring <strong>of</strong> lung tissue caused byexposure <strong>to</strong> Asbes<strong>to</strong>s fibres. Although in the major<strong>it</strong>y <strong>of</strong>cases the scarring does not cause any long-term problems<strong>it</strong> is evidence <strong>of</strong> exposure and in a small percentage <strong>of</strong>cases individuals may develop a more serious cond<strong>it</strong>ionthat can prove fatal.Mr Justice Holland found that pleural plaques should becompensated for, because the risk <strong>of</strong> developing a fullblownasbes<strong>to</strong>s-related disease was increased andtherefore the plaques lead <strong>to</strong> anxiety.“<strong>The</strong> uncertainty <strong>of</strong> a sufferer’s fate causes unnecessarystress and impacts directly on their qual<strong>it</strong>y <strong>of</strong> life. It’sbecause <strong>of</strong> this Sword <strong>of</strong> Damocles hanging over innocentAdvertising FeatureTilly Bailey & IrvineAsbes<strong>to</strong>s Sufferers Win Landmark Casevictims that compensation has been granted,” confirmedJohn Hall, Head <strong>of</strong> Personal Injury at TBI, one <strong>of</strong> theNorth’s largest law firms specialising in industrial diseaseclaims.TBI have a number <strong>of</strong> cases ongoing and clients will berelieved w<strong>it</strong>h the decision. Compensation lim<strong>it</strong>s havehowever been reduced. For a confirmed case <strong>of</strong> pleuralplaques a client can claim from £4,000 for a provisionalpayment <strong>to</strong> £7,000 for a full and final settlement.His<strong>to</strong>rically the amounts were between £5,000 and£15,000. A provisional award leaves the door open for afurther claim if their cond<strong>it</strong>ion deteriorates.<strong>The</strong>re are approximately 14,000 cases reported each yearw<strong>it</strong>h a high proportion in the North <strong>of</strong> England due <strong>to</strong> theregions legacy <strong>of</strong> shipbuilding and heavy industry.If you require further informationcall John Hall 0800 0526824.“Families who have suffered as a result <strong>of</strong>health problems caused by their workingenvironment can claim compensation <strong>of</strong>between £4,000 and £50,000+”• Deafness• Asbes<strong>to</strong>s Related Injury(including - pleural thickening, mesothelioma or asbes<strong>to</strong>sis)• Vibration Wh<strong>it</strong>e Finger• Bronch<strong>it</strong>is• Emphysema• Repet<strong>it</strong>ive Strain InjuryIf you think you may be ent<strong>it</strong>led <strong>to</strong> claim compensation, call your local industrial injury specialistSolici<strong>to</strong>rs, John Hall or Mark Ellis for a FREE consulation0800 0526824OFFICES THROUGHOUT TEES VALLEY - HOME VISITS ON REQUEST
September 2005 www.healthspectrum.co.ukN E HEALTH31‘Make exercisea family affair’Olympic gold medallistSally Gunnell has alwaysbeen fanatical aboutsport and keeping f<strong>it</strong>, buther focus has nowchanged from her ownf<strong>it</strong>ness <strong>to</strong> her family’s,she tells CHRISTINEFIELDHOUSEIT MAY be 13 years since Sally Gunnell madesporting his<strong>to</strong>ry in Barcelona, but she hasnever rested on her laurels. <strong>The</strong> 400-metrehurdler is still passionate about sport andhealthy living and now has a new goal – <strong>to</strong>spread the word <strong>to</strong> Br<strong>it</strong>ain’s youngsters.As mum <strong>to</strong> three boys, she knows first hand thechallenges parents face in bringing up their children.For her two older boys Finley, six, and Luca,four, exercise has been a way <strong>of</strong> life since they couldwalk. Sally, the only woman in his<strong>to</strong>ry <strong>to</strong> have concurrentlyheld all four major championship goldmedals – Olympic, World, Commonwealth and European– has set up a mini hurdles course in the family’sbarn for the youngsters. Baby Marley ispresently excused physical education – he’s justseven months old!“I did an athletics course for Finley’s primaryschool and <strong>it</strong> was scary how some children couldn’teven run 100 metres w<strong>it</strong>hout getting out <strong>of</strong> breath,”says Sally, who has been married <strong>to</strong> Jon Bigg, a former800-metre runner since 1992. “<strong>The</strong>y just don’tdo the sport and they’re not as active as we used <strong>to</strong>be. If you make exercise a way <strong>of</strong> life, children don’tquestion <strong>it</strong>.“Finley has a Playstation but I ration his time on<strong>it</strong>. He doesn’t go on before school, and after schoolhe’s <strong>to</strong>o busy w<strong>it</strong>h other activ<strong>it</strong>ies. He usually managesa couple <strong>of</strong> hours at the weekend.“<strong>The</strong> boys do a lot <strong>of</strong> sport already. Finley lovesfootball, tennis and swimming, while Luca, like myhusband Jon, loves skate-boarding. Jon <strong>to</strong>ok him <strong>to</strong>a skateboard park and suggested they watched theteenagers, but Luca insisted on performing. He’s areal poser.”<strong>The</strong> boys already have incredibly active lives,whether they’re on family bike rides <strong>to</strong> Brigh<strong>to</strong>nfrom their home at the foot <strong>of</strong> the South Downs inWest Sussex, or out on an adventure climbing trees.Even if they’re staying at home, they enjoy exercisingon their giant trampoline in the garden orsimply playing ball games.“<strong>The</strong>y love <strong>it</strong> when Jon and I go out and kick a ballaround w<strong>it</strong>h them,” laughs Sally, 38, who retiredfrom competing in 1997. “<strong>The</strong>y also love climbingtrees. I know we’re going <strong>to</strong> have some broken armsat some point. It’s all part <strong>of</strong> being a boy.“We’ve already had a few bruises, but I just usenatural products on the boys. I love the Nelsonbachrange w<strong>it</strong>h arnica for bruises and use the travel sicknessremedy for Luca. I’d hate my boys <strong>to</strong> miss ou<strong>to</strong>n activ<strong>it</strong>ies because <strong>of</strong> the fear <strong>of</strong> getting injuredor sick.”<strong>The</strong> word “natural” crops up a lot when Sallytalks about her family’s health. <strong>The</strong>y try and eat asmuch organic food as possible, use natural remediesfor illnesses and get plenty <strong>of</strong> fresh air.“I want them <strong>to</strong> do sport, and if they want <strong>to</strong> doathletics, that’s fine,” says Sally, who, as a BBCsports commenta<strong>to</strong>r, was the first person <strong>to</strong> interviewKelly Holmes after she won two Gold medalsSTAR TIP❛Try all different sports.So many peoplespecialise early on in aparticular event or sport,and by the time they get <strong>to</strong>18 they hate <strong>it</strong>...I didn’t find the 400mhurdles until I was aged 22,so you just never knowwhich event you’re going <strong>to</strong>be best atat the Olympics.“I love building assault courses round the gardenfor them. <strong>The</strong> l<strong>it</strong>tle coloured cardboard hurdles andfoam javelins have been a great success. Even nowFinley is fast and he’s so compet<strong>it</strong>ive. <strong>The</strong>y have naturalrunning styles which are lovely <strong>to</strong> watch. Butthen I can remember being good at running when Iwas five.“I’m very keen on keeping them as healthy as possible.<strong>The</strong>y wouldn’t eat junk food and <strong>it</strong>’s scary howmany children eat chicken nuggets, pizzas andchips. My problem is getting my boys <strong>to</strong> s<strong>it</strong> downand eat. <strong>The</strong>y’re so active.”Sally sounds as though she has mastered the ar<strong>to</strong>f healthy living for her boys, but how can parentssw<strong>it</strong>ch <strong>to</strong> a healthy lifestyle?“It has <strong>to</strong> be done gradually so <strong>it</strong> becomes secondnature,” advises Sally. “Finley doesn’t like vegetablesall that much so I have <strong>to</strong> disguise them inspaghetti for him. But he likes fru<strong>it</strong> while Luca likesvegetables. <strong>The</strong>y’re allowed their treats. <strong>The</strong>ir bigdownfall is cookies in the evening w<strong>it</strong>h their milk,and trips <strong>to</strong> the sweet shop now and then.“It’s easy and fun for the whole family <strong>to</strong> do exercise<strong>to</strong>gether. We <strong>of</strong>ten just get our bikes out andcycle down <strong>to</strong> the seafront in Brigh<strong>to</strong>n or otherbeauty spots. We make family outings interesting –my boys love interactive museums and theme parkswhere they can have fun. <strong>The</strong>y loved our trips <strong>to</strong> theScience Museum, the Imperial War Museum andLegoland.“Or we go <strong>to</strong> parks w<strong>it</strong>h a group <strong>of</strong> friends or wewalk in the woods and explore and climb trees. If exercisebecomes fun, children will do <strong>it</strong>, and love <strong>it</strong>.<strong>The</strong>y’re really in<strong>to</strong> castles as they’re great forclimbing!”SALLY also encourages Finley <strong>to</strong> do afterschoolactiv<strong>it</strong>ies such as swimming and tennis.“If he still has energy after that, he rideshis bike or has a bounce on the trampoline. His balancewas wonderful when he came <strong>to</strong> ride a bike because<strong>of</strong> all the time he’d spent bouncing on thetrampoline.”Sally runs motivational courses from her home aswell as carrying out her broadcasting work comm<strong>it</strong>ments,but is keen <strong>to</strong> remain active even onholiday. “We go <strong>to</strong> France <strong>to</strong> ski,” she says. “Lucahas just started skiing but Finley has been three orfour times and he’s amazing,” says Sally. “I enjoy agentle ski down w<strong>it</strong>h a nice cup <strong>of</strong> c<strong>of</strong>fee at the bot<strong>to</strong>m.We sometimes go <strong>to</strong> resorts where there arekids’ clubs. Finley, in particular, wants activ<strong>it</strong>ies.He doesn’t want <strong>to</strong> s<strong>it</strong> around w<strong>it</strong>h us on a beach.“I’m defin<strong>it</strong>ely a boys’ mum. Jon and I make boysand I’ve accepted that now. I’m not a pretty flowerysort <strong>of</strong> person and any girl I had would have beenthe biggest <strong>to</strong>mboy in the world. I’m really lookingforward <strong>to</strong> going on adventure holidays whenthey’re older. I can see us all going wh<strong>it</strong>e water rafting.Now that will be exc<strong>it</strong>ing.”
Change language