‘The tragic cost of under-investment’: asbestos blamed for 150 deaths of school and hospital workers in England

Unsafe buildings could still be putting staff at risk of cancer through contact with the material, warn unions, experts and MPs

Fresh concerns have been raised about the amount of asbestos remaining in dilapidated schools and hospitals, after new analysis found that almost 150 health and education workers were recorded as dying from cancer related to the material in recent years.

According to official data, there have been 147 deaths among health and education workers since 2017. Experts believe the figure is likely to be a significant underestimate because of the way someone’s profession is recorded on death certificates.