REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE AT THE WELCOMING CEREMONY FOR THE 15TH WORLD CONFERENCE
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE AT THE WELCOMING CEREMONY FOR THE 15TH WORLD CONFERENCE
You know it’s quite normal in this country for people to go and see their doctor – but the prospect of my coming to be seen by four thousand doctors all at once takes a little while to come to terms with! This is a unique opportunity – and indeed a tremendous honour for me – to be with you at the welcoming ceremony. I am delighted to ‘formally’ welcome you to Ireland for WONCA 98 - the 15th World Conference of the World Organisation of National Colleges and Academies of General Practice. I would particularly like to extend a warm welcome to the very many overseas delegates who have come from well over seventy countries - especially those of you who are visiting for the first time.
I understand from Dr. Michael Boland - the Chairman of the Host Organising Committee - that they have been planning for this event since 1982 with the International WONCA Secretariat and the Irish College of General Practitioners – and that it has involved a considerable amount of work by a number of his colleagues. I think that after six years it is an appropriate time to commend them for their professionalism in arranging such an interesting and wide-ranging conference – which has as its theme “People and their family doctors – partners in care”.
I know that you have a full programme covering clinical practice; care; medical rights and ethics; practice management; and education - and that you have a comprehensive scientific programme of workshops, clinical demonstrations and presentations. Occasions like this usually mean a lot of hard work – both for delegates and presenters – as new information is shared and analysed – and views and ideas are explored. I commend all of you on taking the time out from your busy schedules to be here in Dublin for the conference - for having the openness of mind, the intellectual curiosity and the professional humility needed to advance scholarship and research – and to ensure your disciplines remain fresh and vital.
Caring for the sick can so often be a thankless task – a job which can be demanding, frustrating and exhausting. Members of your profession carry a great burden of responsibility and service - and I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge your dedication and commitment to the care of the sick – and the pursuit of excellence through advancing medical practice throughout the world. It is your professionalism - steady and sure – which can offer welcome treatment, advice, reassurance and hope to those who are ill – and to their carers – who can themselves bear an onerous burden.
Proceedings at this conference will cover many aspects of your work – and it will be an opportunity to meet many other professionals in the important area of medical care and treatment – and to share current thinking and developments in the different disciplines. With the tremendous advances in medical science and pharmacology – the frontiers of treatment continue to expand – and life expectancies are continuing to improve. Prospects for a better quality of life for those who are in your care are increasing with every new development. Expectations are also growing. Things which defeated you a short time ago are no longer insuperable. Things which are still difficult – people now expect to be easy. You work in tense atmospheres, treading delicately on patient’s worries, denials and despairs.
As technology provides answers and solutions - your task gets more and more complex – and is constantly in need of critique and review. Over the next four days you will have many opportunities to do just that - and to share ideas, insights, problems and solutions. It will be an opportunity for those of you who work in specific disciplines to explore the interconnectedness of your related professions – and to pool your talents and skills – away from the daily bustle of your ordinary but vital work. The quality of treatment that you give is directly related to your willingness to be open – to embrace change – to critique and amend – to try out new ideas and to learn.
I want to wish all of you well in your deliberations. I hope you have an enjoyable and fruitful conference - discussing the new possibilities your work can offer to those who rely on your care – your professionalism and your dedication. Importantly, the programme for the week includes a healthy social dimension – with many sightseeing tours – and a Bloomsday party! Clearly, Dr. Boland is a firm believer in the holistic approach to ‘conference-attending’ – where you can mix hard work and cerebral activity - a judicious amount of culture, social intercourse and relaxation!