The family of a former hospital worker are appealing to his ex-colleagues to establish how he could have come into contact with asbestos.

Ken Hale, who lived in Kempsey, passed away in February this year at the age of 87 having been diagnosed with mesothelioma - a form of cancer associated with asbestos exposure - in October 2023.

A former NHS employee, Mr Hale carried out maintenance and carpentry work at the old Worcester Royal Infirmary from 1976 until his retirement in 1992.

His wife Patricia and daughter Rosalind are now appealing for information from Ken's former colleagues as to whether he may have been exposed to asbestos during his time at the hospital.

Mrs Hale said: "The last few months since Ken’s passing have been terrible for me, Rosalind and the whole family.

"There’s not a day gone by that I haven’t thought of him and it’s so hard to accept that he’s really gone. It just hasn’t properly sunk in yet.

"Ken was a kind, generous and hard-working man who didn’t have a bad word for anyone. He didn’t deserve to have his last years cut short by this terrible disease.

"We’d never heard of mesothelioma when the doctors gave us the diagnosis but we now know too well how dreadful it is."

On any forthcoming appeals, Mrs Hale added: "It could make all the difference and help us secure some answers over Ken’s asbestos exposure."

The Hale family have also sought legal advice from Stephen Fitzwalter, an asbestic-related disease lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, who is investigating how Ken developed mesothelioma and if its related to his work history.

Mr Fitzwalter said: "This is sadly another case which puts the spotlight on the devastating impact of asbestos exposure.

"Through our initial investigations, we're led to believe that Ken was probably exposed to asbestos when he repaired fire doors and when he removed old lagging from a boiler and its pipework.

"We're determined to support Patricia and Rosalind as they seek the answers to Ken’s asbestos exposure in his memory."

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust was contacted for comment but did not respond.