A CREWKERNE woman is appealing for people who worked at Bowhayes Lodge between 1995 and 1998 with her to come forward after being diagnosed with an asbestos related disease.

Doreen Gain, 71, was diagnosed with mesothelioma, in December 2012.

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lung and is widely linked to asbestos exposure, Doreen believes she was exposed to asbestos while at work.

Doreen had been receiving treatment for a skin cancer, but this had to stop after her diagnosis of mesothelioma.

She believes that if she had not been diagnosed with mesothelioma, she could have continued to receive treatment for her melanoma, which was under control at the time but has now sadly spread.

Doreen’s condition has recently deteriorated, leaving her breathless and waiting to receive an oxygen cylinder.

Her husband David, and her children Katrina and Jason care for her. Doreen believes she was exposed to asbestos dust while working as a care assistant at residential home Bowhayes Lodge in Crewkerne.

She said: “I remember the suspended ceiling with the asbestos ceiling tiles. Maintenance men had to move the tiles from time to time to access the service pipes behind the tiles and also to change the strip lights.

“I noticed that there were two maintenance men constantly working on the premises. I saw them daily.

“I also remember the maintenance men going in and out of the boiler house which is likely to have contained asbestos lagged pipework and asbestos dust and fibres could have been transported around the premises by the maintenance men.”

Doreen and her family are making a plea for people to come forward who worked at Bowhayes Lodge who can remember anything about maintenance work being carried out, the ceiling tiles, pipework and boiler house, in particular any maintenance men themselves who could provide further information about the possible presence of asbestos around the home.

The family have instructed specialist mesothelioma solicitors at Novum Law.

If anyone can help, they should contact solicitor Helen Grady on 0800- 844-0555.

At the time Doreen worked at the care home, it was owned by South Somerset District Council and transfer of the building was given to Yarlington Housing Group in 1999.

The council say that they do not hold any documentation in connection with the site as all records were transferred over.

They added that they have provided Novum Law with this information.

Yarlington Housing said that the building has had extensive tests done on it and has been found to be free of asbestos, saying there was no health risk for existing residents and staff.

Paul Bullows, the company’s facilities and health and safety manager added: “After thorough testing in which many samples were taken, the report concluded that no asbestos containing materials were found in the building.

Therefore, there is no reason for residents to be concerned or worried.”