Dinner Meeting - Morgannwg Endeavor Charitable Trust

President John welcomed our guests. After a very enjoyable two course supper the Club's guests were introduced by Hopkin Joseph, and invited to speak. 

The Morgannwg Endeavour Charitable Trust CEO gave an update on the Trust's  activities to date, supported by speakers from the NHS.

The Trust was formed some 5 years ago to lobby and campaign for a new Renal unit in Bridgend to avoid people with kidney problems having to travel to Morriston for dialysis.  Mari Major, who was instrumental in setting the Trust up and is the de facto unpaid CEO, explained that it takes around an hour at best to get from home in Bridgend to be ready within the Morriston unit for treatment to commence, and about 40 mins to return, with the treatment time varying from an hour to three hours. Or longer if transported by shared minibus/taxi. Very tiring, and especially so for relatives who may provide transport, them often having to wait at Morrison during the treatment. 

Lot's of promotional and fundraising events have been held in recent years.  The very good news is the the lobbying has succeeded, with the NHS agreeing last September  to install a new unit at Bridgend (located within one mile of the hospital) .Tenders are being prepared to be sent out this month  with a target  opening date for late 2023. After installation , the Trust - which is now a registered charity -  is and will continue to fundraise to provide little extras for patients /families (eg chairs in a family room) which are outside of the remit of NHS funding. 

Three members of the Renal Team at Swansea Bay University Health Board gave two illustrated slide shows. The first about how kidneys work and what causes them to fail, with illustrations of how the dialysis systems work -including how in hospitals and at home. The second was about how the new Bridgend Renal Unit will be set up with initially 12 "stations" but within a building capable of taking many more , as the demand for dialysis is increasing very significantly(much related to diabetes). 

Rotary Bridgend were very grateful that Andrew Long ( Head of Renal unit), Jade Morgan Renal development team and Andy Cooper were prepared to give up their time. 

After a series of questions and answers Club Member Win Griffiths proposed a vote of thanks "