| Peter Griffiths |
 Born in Swansea in 1932, and with teachers for parents, Peter Griffiths had wanted to be a doctor from age five or six, and
went on to study medicine at King's College Hospital (1950-56). After three years in the Air Force, Peter Griffiths then returned
to Swansea where he worked as an SHO in obstetrics/paediatrics at Morriston Hospital. He then went on to join a general practice,
and was interested in pain and symptom control in dying patients. In 1977 Peter Griffiths undertook a five-day course at St
Christopher's to enhance his skills. Returning in January 1978 as a locum, Peter Griffiths went on to work at the hospice
for a further three years from September 1978. In 1977, unbeknown to Peter Griffiths, the Macmillan charity had approached
the Regional Health Authority to ask if anyone was interested in starting a hospice in Swansea, and, unaware of his interest,
the RHA had declined. When Peter Griffiths realised this he helped set up an Appeal Committee, and by 1981, with monies from
the RHA, Macmillan and local fund raising, the hospice for Swansea, Ty Olwen, was ready to open. Peter Griffiths was appointed
Medical Director in April; and the first patients were admitted in October. Peter Griffiths' interview recounts the development
of the hospice as well as the local professional opposition and hostility he encountered. Nationally, Peter Griffiths was
one of the founders of Help the Hospices, as well as networking all over Wales, and travelling nationally and internationally.
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| Interview conducted by Neil Small, 11 June 1996 |
| Interview Duration: 58 minutes |
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