Women's Health
ICGP Women's Health Programme Host Another Successful National Conference
The second national women's health conference was held last Saturday 27th May in the Heritage Hotel in Portlaoise. Over 140 delegates attended, from all over Ireland. The conference was opened by Dr Eamonn Shanahan, Chairman of the ICGP. Eamonn launched the Women's Health Services in General Practice: 2004 report. This study reviewed the provision of women's reproductive health services by GPs in Ireland in 2004 and traced developments since an earlier study in 1998.
The conference had a wide-ranging programme, addressing both reproductive and more general health issues for women.
In the morning, Prof Fergal Malone (Consultant in Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Rotunda Hospital and RCSI) discussed ante-natal screening and diagnosis and described the screening service for congenital abnormalities that he has established in the Rotunda Hospital. Dr Edgar Mocanu (Consultant Gynaecologist, Human Assisted Reproduction Unit, Rotunda Hospital) described the experience of assisted reproduction for couples and outlined the role that the general practitioner can play in supporting couples through this process - providing a better understanding of the medical intervention as well as the emotional challenges of such treatment.
The experience of building a teenager friendly practice was presented by Ms Penny Barber (Chief Executive, Brook Centre, Birmingham, UK), drawing on her experience at the Brook Centre and making recommendations on how this might be approached in the context of Irish general practice. Dr Kate Ganter (Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Lucena Clinic, Dublin) reviewed the literature on deliberate self harm and described her experience of the multifactorial inputs into managing this complex issue.
A lively session after lunch focused on lifestyle issues in women's health. Ms Yvonne Jacobson (Marriage and Relationship Counselling Services) addressed the impact of the challenges and stresses of modern lives on women's libido. The Role of Alcohol and Drugs in Sexual Assault was discussed by Dr Mary Holohan (Consultant Gynaecologist & Director, Sexual Assault Treatment Unit, Rotunda Hospital, Dublin. Approaches to controlling weight and how patients can best be supported in this difficult undertaking were presented by Dr Eva Orsmond (Weight Management Specialist, Shape-up Weight Management Clinic) and the experience of and evidence for benefit of prescribing exercise was ably described by Dr John O'Riordan (General Practitioner, Cork).
In the closing plenary, Dr Tyrone Carpenter (Consultant Gynaecologist, Poole, UK) provided practical recommendations for the assessment and management of irregular menstrual bleeding in pre-menopausal women in the primary care setting.
A striking exhibition of 365 posters from more than 60 countries on violence against women was displayed. This exhibition, the brainchild of Colm Dempsey, attracted considerable attention and provoked much discussion.
Ailís ní Riain, Director of the Women's Health Programme, was delighted with the enthusiasm shown by both delegates and speakers on the day. "I would like to thank all those who worked so hard to make this conference such a success, particularly the ICGP staff and Dr Rita Galimberti, the presenters and all those who attended and participated in the conference." A number of suggestions have already been put forward for topics for next year's conference. "Because of the success of this year's conference, we are strongly considering using the same venue for 2007".
PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE CONFERENCE
From l-r: Dr Ailís ní Riain and Ms Penny Barber.
From l-r: Mr Fionán O'Cuinneagáin, Dr Margaret O'Riordan and Dr Eamonn Shanahan.
From l-r: Dr Ailbhe Smyth, Dr Judith Murray and Dr Mary Clifford.
From l-r: Dr Mary O'Doherty and Dr Mary-Carmel Burke.
From l-r: Dr Colette Brennan, Dr Lynda Keaveney and Dr Helen Fitzsimons.