Record

D1920 - National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) Derbyshire Area - 1867-2015
- 2 - Area Compensation Department - 1906-1997
  - 2 - Medical Appeal Tribunals - 1948-1993
    - 9 - Medical Appeal Tribunals 1951 R-Z - 1951

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Archive Reference / Library Class No.	D1920/2/2/9/23
Title	Medical Appeal Tribunal case file for Charles Edward Straw, aged 61, Stripper and packer at Oakwood Grange, relating to a Prescribed Industrial Disease
Date	1951
Description	Date of birth: 02/11/1889 Marital status: Married Address: 88 North Street, Ilkeston Type of injury: Not applicable Description of accident: Not applicable Further information: Initial diagnosis in 1949. File includes several long handwritten letters from Straw to Mr Kitts, Area NUM Compensation Agent, addressed 'Dear Mr Kitts' and signed off 'I remain your Chas E Straw'. First (undated) starts: 'I am sending you this parcel of Reading for you to study [...] I would like to know by return of post what you think of the situation has I think mine is a genuine case'. The reply said 'your case does not look too hopeful'. Straw wrote again 'I have very little time to lose [...] I would like to no if you will send me Back that introduction form in case I have to fight the case single-handed I mean the one that I shall get my Expenses for the Holiday that will ensue and I should like to no if will see me in Nottingham on the day in Question [...] hoping you no you are very important to me'. A third letter says that one set of medical papers has not been forwarded, from a Dr Gillison 'and this is what he said to me [...] you will never work down a coal mine no more but you will never go blind [...] men like me a likely to get Depressed when you get the Disease'. Opthalmic specialist report October 1949 gave opinion 'a mild case of MIners' Nystagmus in a recovery phase. Should be found work above ground'. Medical report January 1951 states 'he is very deaf [...] and it was difficult to obtain a history and good co-operation' and the Board reassessment quoted from an opthalmologist's report 'he tells me he has been at the coal face 48 years' and ' seems to be more a psychiatric case than an opthalmological one'. Final letter in file from Straw (received 11 April 1951) to Mr Kitts asking for an explanation of the Tribunal decision 'I would like you to answer me what Really transpired at the Tribunal Exam has I am deaf* and unable to hear audible speech your Representative should no Exactly [...] he would not disclose what they said and he was in a very big hurry to catch a bus.[...] I have not been properly dealt with [...] I ought to have had your advice when I wa attending "Dr Goldsmith and Dr Secker" sounds like to foreigners. [...] I want you to understand that my Deafness his caused by working at the coal face'. NUM Branch Representative H J Hufton wirtes to ask if any chance of proceeding with the claim, saying Straw was now employed on surface work 'at a considerable loss of wages'. Reply indicated nothing further could be done.
Extent	1 file
Level	File
Repository	Derbyshire Record Office
Full Catalogue List	Click here to view a full list for this collection
Archive Creator	National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) Derbyshire Area

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