Whistleblower welcomes probe over asbestos risk at Shropshire hospital

The Health and Safety Executive has confirmed it is in the process of investigating reports that building workers at the hospital were exposed to asbestos while working on residential premises in 2012.

Les Small, 58, of Wellington, was sacked after blowing the whistle on what he saw as unsafe working practices. He then won a tribunal ruling that he had been unfairly dismissed in 2012.

Now Mr Small says he hopes that the HSE investigation will uncover the truth behind what happened. He said: "It is good news that it is finally in front of the HSE. It took me a lot of pushing to get it there through the HSE and the hospital.

"I am more than happy it is moving on but I think it still has a long way to go."

Mr Small said the investigation is important because any incidents of potential asbestos exposure must be officially noted.

He said: "The problem with asbestos exposure is you might have someone who needs a record in the future.

"Perhaps there's a guy who was working as a 17-year-old, then at 27 he's starting a family and an illness comes up and it is asbestos related but there is no record of asbestos exposure where he has worked.

"The fact that it is part of the HSE investigation means that if someone has an issue in 10 or 20 years time their solicitor will be able to say 'we have a record of asbestos exposure in 2012'. It creates traceability."

Mr Small was awarded £55,000 in damages after winning the tribunal but has since lost another case to see the size of the award increased.

He now plans to take the case to the court of appeal to challenge the judgement.

He said: "This whole debacle has blighted my career. I am unemployed and unemployable." Mr Small said the situation had left him facing financial ruin. He added: "I went in and did a good job, and during that time I thought they were breaching health and safety and my expectations were when I alerted them to it they would put it right, I didn't expect them to sack me."

Julia Clarke, director of corporate governance at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, said: "We are co-operating fully with the HSE, but it would be inappropriate for us to comment further until their investigation has been completed."