Visit by Mrs. Chris McGregor, Vice Convenor at Alzheimer Scotland

(Second from right Mrs. Chris McGregor, Far right Dr. Stephen Abela with group participants at the Training Course in Dementia Person Centred Care at St. Vincent de Paul Residence)

During the month of April, we've had to priviledge to welcome Mrs. Chris McGregor, Vice Convenor at Alzheimer Scotland, who was on a four-week visit to Malta. Chris is also a member on the elected board of Alzheimer's Disease International. Chris was very interested in getting to know more about the health care system of Malta, particularly the care of people with dementia and the work of the Malta Dementia Society. She attended during one of the training sessions in person-centred care that are currently being organised at St. Vincent de Paul Residence, Luqa. She was delighted to talk to staff members and appreciated their enthusiasm in learning more on how to care for people with dementia. Chris also attended for the lecture entitled "Clinicopathological Correlates inDementia" by Neuropathologist Prof. John Henry Xuereb which was held at the Medical School, St. Lukes Hospital, Gwardamangia on the 10th April 2006, where she was able to meet other committee members of the Malta Dementia Society. Chris McGregor has previously been a Social Work Commissioner of the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland and continues to be involved in mental health social work. She has kindly accepted to give a talk to Zammit Clapp Hospital staff on rights, risk and limits to freedom in dementia. She recognised how staff members at this hospital were already very much aware of these issues and therefore ready to learn more about improving practices.