6th EACH European Conference Milano – Nov. 11 – 14, 1999

For participants coming down from farther North, Milano offered a few more sunny and warm autumn days, pots with “real” flowers still decorating the piazzi and the windows of the palazzi. A palace was also the home for all the delegations from our member organisations and our guests. The conference center and hotel “Palazzo delle Stelline”, situated near the centre of Milan.

As at past conferences, exchanging information and experiences is a necessary and important element for working together. A lot of questions can be solved by discussion only, and some of our delegates are neither keen readers of letters received nor writers of replies. Conference meetings always bring us a big step forward and deepen our understanding for each other. It was, therefore, with some regret that we had to say good-bye to some of our delegates, with whom we had worked together since quite a few Conferences, and who have become personal friends in the meantime. On the other hand, we are looking forward to an equally close co-operation with their successors.

While the delegates started their work a day ahead on Wednes, the international Conference participants started dropping in on Thrusday. A first welcome meeting started in the late afternoon, and we were especially excited to welcome for this Conference a delegation from Japan and a special guest from HongKong.

Friday was the day for our member organisations to present the reports on their activities during the past two years. The day was concluded by a presentation by Ann Casey from the Royal College of Nursing on “Partnership in Care”, a vision which we very much liked to hear, but for some of us sounded almost futuristic - a time to look forward to.

Then change of places: a friendly reception accompanied by fine drinks and delicious amuse-bouches offered by the City Mayor in the magnificent town hall near the Cathedral of Milano.

Saturday, the public day at the Centro Congressi della Provincia in Milano was dedicated to the subject Play in Hospital. We spent it together with many participants from all parts of Italy.

Sunday morning our last meeting, time for our general assembly, time to say good-bye until our next Conference in London in 2001.