St Luke’s Day Service 1992

Lichfield Cathedral

18th October 1992

 Bishop Keith’s Address

I feel slightly overawed at speaking to such a splendid crowd of medics here at Evensong on St Luke’s Day.

But everyone of you is most warmly welcome whatever part of the medical community in Lichfield you come from.

We are thrilled that you have wanted to come here on St Luke’s Day 1992 to give thanks for these 100 years.  We give thanks to you.  We want you to know that your work is deeply valued by this community here in Lichfield.  I would like to say one or two positive things – out of gratitude.

And this, in general…. which is, that to be one of your patients is to be aware of your power: that power of medical science for which we give thanks.

There is, first, the power of your knowledge.  (What a massive increase of sheer knowledge we are celebrating!) thanks….not only for people – my GPs and all staff – the receptionists, the switchboard and the pharmacy and the Ventolin and Haloperidol – yes and the less glamorous items such as Senokot and Picolax and Welldorm.

And given the power of your knowledge, dare I add: long may you continue to maintain your struggle for excellence in the increase and use of that knowledge, which has gone on for 100 years and longer!

I’ve never forgotten the situation of a young mother in a Third World situation suffering from a serious condition.  Three doctors examined her and made no progress.  A fourth made the diagnosis and began the healing.  We give thanks for excellence.  Aim at it.

 Second, there is the power of your experience.  You are seeing people who are ill (or they think they’re ill) every day of your working lives.  That experience adds to your power.  and as your experience builds up may we say this: “keep the sensitivity there”.  Any professional group can get blasé – judges, doctors and not least the clergy.

 But I’ve never forgotten the story of a gentleman of the road who’d neglected and wreaked his own health.  He ended up in a casualty ward of a teaching hospital.  After being examined, he heard the Registrar say quietly to the students behind the screen “what a wreak”.  “But a wreak”, came the voice in reply, “for whom Christ died”.

 The power of your knowledge and experience.  And lastly the power of your decisions.  In these recent weeks we have all agonised for Dr Cox and his decision and all the fall-out.

 But, as your patient, may I add “whenever you have time – communicate; communication adds to the quality of your care.  It is very precious!”.

 My wife was recently transferred from one hospital to another and then back again to the first hospital.  In her confusion, the stress was too much.  She pleaded “Do let’s be together at home”.  I drove home with my heart feeling torn in a hundred pieces.  But the next morning a Ward Sister took a simple initiative of communication, of just ringing to say that my wife had had a good night and was happy again, and there was no need for concern or anxiety.

 Forgive me for being personal – but that phone call gave me new strength for the long journey.

 For here’s the punch line – the Christian faith says that your power is a gift – a gift from God foe which you are accountable to Him and which the inmost secret of this Cathedral reveals.  May you continue to use it with that excellence, sensitivity and communicative love, for which we give thanks on St Luke’s Day – one of the medical servants of the Lord.