HAVING read your article “Hand condition recognised as work-related injury” (Echo, Nov 19), I am pleased that after fighting for five years the Tory Government have finally prescribed Dupuytren’s as an industrial disease.

As the former chairman and secretary of the Durham Miners Association I have over this period collated evidence from former Durham miners on how this condition has affected their lives. I sent all this evidence to the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council and they used this evidence to recommend to the Government in May 2014 to make Dupuytren’s Contracture a prescribed industrial disease.

The Government for the first time in history, rejected their advice.

I have campaigned with Labour MPs to get this decision overturned and, in June 2018, I met with Sarah Newton, the then Secretary of State at the Department of Works and Pensions and was accompanied MPs Laura Pidcock and Roberta Blackman Wood.

Ms Newton listened to our presentation an accepted that Dupuytren’s Contracture should be prescribed.

I am immensely proud of the significant role I played on behalf of the Durham miners in winning this five year battle.

A J Cummings, Easington Colliery.