May 21st 2007

                          At this week’s meeting the club welcomed two members of the Palliative Care East appeal team, which is based at the James Paget Hospital namely Patrick Blossfeldt and Jenny Westgate.  This was a very special occasion for the club as it presented Dr Patrick Blossfeldt (lead consultant for palliative care) with a £3000 cheque towards the appeal.  Mr Blossfeldt thanked the members for the donation and explained what palliative care meant to the patients and carers, and the journey they would experience when serious illness is diagnosed. Jenny Westgate then addressed the meeting explaining how the appeal was formed and what services would be available at the new centre.  Whilst there is palliative care at the hospital the facilities are sparse and not ideally located in this busy and bustling environment.   The new unit would operate with staff members from the James Paget and would also involve the voluntary sector with the necessary training and experience to administer various treatments including reflexology, acupuncture, occupational therapy, and much more.  Jenny also reminded the members that palliative care was also being administered in the community for those patients unable to attend the hospital. Land has been identified within the grounds of the hospital and the design for the new centre has been approved. An article on the subject recently featured in the Yarmouth Mercury.  The appeal has to date raised just over £120000 and with the target at well over a million pounds there is still a long way to go.  However Jenny is encouraged by the support so far and was confident that the target would be achieved within the next few years.  There was a lot of interest in this project, which was reflected by the number of questions that were posed by the members.  Rotarian John Dawson thanked Jenny for attending the lunch and wished her and the team every success with this very worthwhile cause.

 President Bert presenting cheque for £3000 

to Jenny Westgate and Dr.Patrick Blossfeldt 

with Community Service Chairman John Burroughs and

Vice President Ian Thomson.

Photos by Rtn. Alan Spinks