Massive Settlement Over Latex Allergy

Allergic reactions to natural rubber latex have increased significantly in the last ten years, particularly amongst healthcare workers. It is estimated that latex intolerance now affects between 1 and 6 per cent of the population. The proteins naturally present in the latex cause the allergy, either from direct contact with the skin or by inhalation of powder from powdered latex gloves.

An RAF dental nurse has received £260,000 in compensation after her employers failed to make allowances for her latex allergy. Lisa Furphy, 35, who joined the RAF in 1987, developed the allergy after years of using latex gloves whilst working as a dental assistant.

Ms Furphy's condition reached its worst point at RAF Holton in 2003, when she suffered a potentially life-threatening anaphylaxic attack. After receiving a formal diagnosis of a latex allergy she was invalided out of the RAF in 2004 and brought an action, against the Ministry of Defence, which was recently settled in the High Court.

Lawyers for Ms Furphy argued that whilst she was not formally diagnosed until 2003, there had been plenty of warning signs that she was suffering from the condition. These had not been acted on by her employers who should have made more effort to avoid exposing her to powdered latex gloves. Ms Furphy will have to live with the consequences of her allergy for the rest of her life.

This out of court settlement comes in the wake of two other high profile latex allergy cases. Alison Dugmore, a former nurse, received £330,000 in 2004 and Nurse Bernadette Chouchene received £140,000 in 2005.