Dr Peter Griffiths was Ty Olwen Hospice’s first medical director when it first opened in 1981
Dr Peter Griffiths, who has passed away(Image: Ty Olwen Hospice Trust)
Tributes have been paid to the man who was “the main driving force” behind a beloved Welsh hospice. Dr Peter Griffiths, who was Ty Olwen Hospice Trust’s first medical director when it first opened in 1981, has sadly died.
Tŷ Olwen Hospice is a purpose built specialist palliative care unit, situated a short distance from Morriston Hospital in Swansea, offering a tranquil setting for the care of patients and their families.
A tribute from the hospice described how countless people have benefitted through the years thanks to his “vision and determination.” Never miss a Swansea story by signing up to our newsletter here.
It read: “We have heard that Dr Peter Griffiths has passed away.
“For those of you who wouldn’t have known him he was the main driving force in the establishment of a hospice in Swansea and became its first Medical Director when Ty Olwen opened in 1981.
“Dr Peter was a partner in the Sketty Practice before taking up a position in St Christopher’s Hospice, Sydenham working alongside Dame Cecily Saunders to learn as much as he could about hospice and palliative care.
“After his retirement in 1997 he accepted the role as trustee eventually becoming chairman.
“Thanks to his vision and determination many patients and their families have benefitted and continue to benefit from the care of Ty Olwen.
“We send our sincere sympathy to his family.”
Many left tributes to Dr Griffiths on Ty Olwen’s social media page. Among them was Idris Baker, who wrote: “Peter was an outstanding visionary and one of the very great pioneers of the hospice and palliative care movement.
“There’s much greater acceptance of that work now, but we shouldn’t forget just how little understanding there was when he started out, how hard he worked to make the case for what needed doing, how much opposition there was from some who didn’t take the needs of dying people so seriously.
“In retirement he remained a remarkable source of wise advice, for which I and so many others will always be grateful. He was always driven by the same commission and concern. I remember hearing it when he spoke to colleagues in the department, and I remember hearing it in the office I inherited from him when I stumbled across old tapes of letters he had dictated about people who had found themselves in his care.
“The treatment approaches used then are barely recognisable now, because of the work begun by his generation so that we would have a better evidence base for what we do now, but what drove it is unchanged.
“The example of that compassion, and of the willingness to rebel a little when necessary to get people’s needs taken seriously, are an important part of Peter’s legacy and continue to spur us on to make the care he pioneered available to more of the people who need it.”
Pat Davies wrote: “Lovely memories of working with him for many years from when Ty Olwen opened in 1981.
“Such a gentleman who cared so much about his nurses and his patients.”
And Maralyn Thomas added: “I am pleased to see a recognition to the kindness and dedication that Dr Griffiths gave to all of his patients, fellow health professionals and indeed to his neighbours.
“I was a ward sister and also I was fortunate to know him as a friend and neighbour.
“He should always be remembered as the forerunner of hospice care in Swansea and continued his dedication for many years after.
“A great doctor and a great person.”
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