Breakfast Meeting at the Heronston Hotel

Acting President Robin Bratton introduced Alison, an Occupational Therapist from the Y Bwthyn Newydd palliative care centre at the Princess of Wales hospital for 24 years - though with four different employers during that time!

The centre, funded and built by Macmillan, has 8 palliative care beds and looks after people with life limiting conditions. As well as residential patients, there are also day care patients and the centre provides support in the community. Alison made it clear that palliative care is about maximising and living the best quality of life remaining. As well as looking after patients the centre also provides support to their families and loved ones.

Alison started the Good to Grow gardening group at Y Bwthyn Newydd with nothing and no support, but with a lot of determination! Occupations and all the activities we do define us as people and keep us healthy. However people with life limiting conditions loose such roles and become "patients". Now a self-sufficient initiative, Good to Grow gives such people a role in life. The activities involved also strengthen their core to help prevent falls as they become frailer. As Alison said, it may not be possible to change the destination but the journey can certainly be changed.

Robert Reeks thanked Alison on behalf of Rotary Bridgend for a truly passionate, inspirational and thought-provoking talk.