Information from the Starosta of Bolesławiec regarding the epidemiological and financial situation of the county hospital in Bolesławiec (ZOZ in Bolesławiec)

In connection with the existing epidemic situation and the transformation of the county hospital into a single-name infectious diseases hospital, the Board of Bolesławiec County undertook a number of measures. As a result, financial resources were obtained for SP ZOZ to carry out activities related to combating the infection, preventing its spread, prevention, and combating the effects of the infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, known as “COVID-19”.

It should be emphasized that, by decision of the Lower Silesian Voivode, SP ZOZ in Bolesławiec was transformed on 16 March this year into a single-name infectious diseases hospital. The Voivode’s decision on this matter implemented Order No. 540 of the Lower Silesian Voivode of 11 October 2019 on updating the Voivodeship epidemic response plan. In the section entitled “Healthcare resources and other entities that may be used to combat an epidemic”, the order lists, in table item 1, the Healthcare Centre in Bolesławiec as the infectious diseases hospital with infectious diseases wards leading the response to a possible epidemic.

Given the situation in which the Bolesławiec hospital found itself, I repeatedly sent letters to the Lower Silesian Voivode in which I pointed out the problems the hospital faces on a daily basis. In particular, I submitted the following letters to the Voivode:

  • dated 23 March 2020, reference no. OSZ.8023.2.2020, containing a request to provide the hospital with 14 ventilators (complete with an intensive care bed, cardiac monitor and pneumatic suction device), personal protective equipment (coveralls, goggles, half-masks, shoe covers and gloves), and to cover expenses incurred by the hospital and the county in combating the coronavirus, including the purchase of nonwoven fabric (PLN 43,000), the sewing of coveralls (PLN 200,000 – the cost of sewing 10,000 coveralls), disinfectants (PLN 23,500 for the hospital and the Police), and the cost of adapting hospital rooms (creating 30 isolation rooms, building airlocks and partitions in the internal medicine, neurology and general surgery wards, construction work in the anesthesiology and intensive care ward and near the operating theatre – approx. PLN 400,000),
  • dated 25 March 2020, reference no. OSZ.8023.3.2020 – containing an application for a targeted grant of PLN 773,500 for:
    • the production costs of personal protective equipment, including coveralls, gowns and masks for the medical staff of the Healthcare Centre in Bolesławiec, county inspection services and the fire service – approx. PLN 343,000,
    • disinfectant – PLN 23,400,
    • the organization of quarantine facilities for 50 people (including the purchase of towels, soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste, cups, water, cleaning products, etc.) – PLN 7,500,
    • the cost of fuel for official vehicles transporting samples for testing (estimated for 30 days) – PLN 9,600,
    • the cost of adapting rooms into isolation rooms, installing sanitary systems and creating separate rooms in accordance with applicable regulations – PLN 390,000.
  • dated 30 March 2020, reference no. OSZ.8023.4.2020 – a follow-up concerning the request for a targeted grant of PLN 773,500 submitted on 25 March 2020.
  • dated 6 April 2020, reference no. OSZ.8023.5.2020 – an application for payment of the first tranche of the targeted grant, amounting to PLN 250,000, to finance part of the adaptation work carried out at the Healthcare Centre, including adapting rooms into isolation rooms, installing sanitary systems and creating separate rooms in accordance with applicable regulations.
  • dated 4 May 2020, reference no. OSZ.8023.6.2020 – submitting the investment programme entitled: “Reconstruction of the buildings of the Healthcare Centre in Bolesławiec, including adapting hospital ward rooms to provide services to patients suspected of infection or hospitalized in connection with COVID-19 infection, together with modernization of the infrastructure for supplying medical oxygen and compressed air, vacuum installations and electricity, and introducing solutions improving hospital accessibility for people with disabilities”. In this letter, I informed the Lower Silesian Voivode that Bolesławiec County had provided the Healthcare Centre in Bolesławiec with a targeted grant of PLN 800,000 for the implementation of the task entitled: “Reconstruction of the buildings of the Healthcare Centre in Bolesławiec, including adapting hospital ward rooms to provide services to patients suspected of infection or hospitalized in connection with COVID-19 infection”. I enclosed a copy of agreement no. ORG.149/20 of 8 April 2020 concluded with the Healthcare Centre in Bolesławiec and confirmation of the transfer made (the agreement was implemented by the Investments and Procurement Department of the County Office in Bolesławiec).

On 6 April, an application was received from ZOZ Bolesławiec for a grant of PLN 800,000 for the task: “Reconstruction of the buildings of the Healthcare Centre in Bolesławiec, including adapting hospital ward rooms to provide services to patients suspected of infection or hospitalized in connection with COVID-19 infection”.

The scope of the task includes construction, earthwork, assembly and installation works, including: erecting partition walls, reconstructing rooms, creating airlocks, installing skylights and partitions, installing window and door joinery, and modernizing and expanding installations, including sanitary, electrical, low-voltage, nurse-call and medical-gas systems.

On 8 April, the Investments and Public Procurement Department of the County Office submitted the relevant application to the Board of Bolesławiec County. The Board met that same day and approved changes to the current-year budget expenditure plan.

Agreement no. ORG.169/20 on awarding a targeted grant to co-finance the task entitled: “Reconstruction of the buildings of the Healthcare Centre in Bolesławiec, including adapting hospital ward rooms to provide services to patients suspected of infection or hospitalized in connection with COVID-19 infection” was signed on 8 April 2020.

10 April – information was received from ZOZ in Bolesławiec about the possibility of receiving public funds for investments in an amount of up to 97% of the necessary investment costs.

16 April – in accordance with the terms of the agreement, the grant of PLN 800,000.00 was paid.

The grant settlement will be submitted by 23 December 2020.

Grants for the Healthcare Centre in Bolesławiec provided by the Lower Silesian Voivode:

As a result of actions taken by me and the Board of Bolesławiec County, the following grants were obtained for the county hospital:

  • a targeted grant intended to finance tasks related to combating the infection, preventing its spread, prevention and combating the effects of the infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, known as “COVID-19”, for the Healthcare Centre in Bolesławiec – intended for investment purchases
    Grant amount: PLN 1,363,000.00 (in words: one million three hundred sixty-three thousand zlotys, 00/100), intended for the purchase of:
    • ventilators for invasive ventilation,
    • AIRVO 2 non-invasive ventilation ventilators,
    • cardiac monitors equipped for measuring vital signs and pulse oximetry,
    • a defibrillator,
    • a renal replacement therapy device,
    • a transport ventilator,
    • a transport cardiac monitor,
    • an anesthesiology bronchoscope,
    • an ultrasound machine for bedside procedures,
    • intensive care beds,
    • specialist ultrasound equipment for vascular access and peripheral nerve blocks,
    • a videolaryngoscope for difficult intubation.

In connection with this grant, Bolesławiec County concluded with the Healthcare Centre in Bolesławiec agreement no. ORG.139/20 of 11 March 2020.

  • a targeted grant intended to finance tasks related to combating the infection, preventing its spread, prevention and combating the effects of the infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, known as “COVID-19”, for the Healthcare Centre in Bolesławiec – intended for current expenditure.
    Grant amount: PLN 574,993.00 (in words: five hundred seventy-four thousand nine hundred ninety-three zlotys, 00/100), intended for the purchase of:
    • TYVEK protective coveralls,
    • FFP3 filter masks,
    • nonwoven gowns,
    • three-layer nonwoven masks,
    • foil gowns,
    • nitrile gloves, sizes S, M, L and XL,
    • women’s nonwoven caps,
    • men’s nonwoven caps,
    • protective goggles,
    • shoe covers,
    • long shoe covers,
    • Skiman Soft hand disinfectant, 500 ml,
    • Serman Sensitive hand-washing liquid, 500 ml,
    • room-disinfection liquids, 100 ml each,
    • disinfection tablets, 300 each,
    • surface-disinfection liquids, 6 l,
    • portable electric suction devices,
    • a resuscitation and anesthesiology trolley,
    • infusion pumps.

In connection with this grant, Bolesławiec County concluded with the Healthcare Centre in Bolesławiec agreement no. ORG.140/20 of 11 March 2020.

  • a targeted grant intended to finance tasks related to combating the infection, preventing its spread, prevention and combating the effects of the infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, known as “COVID-19”, for the Healthcare Centre in Bolesławiec – current expenditure – purchase of personal protective equipment, namely TYCHEM F coveralls, FFP3 filter half-masks and goggles.

Grant amount: 76,180.00 zlotys (in words: seventy-six thousand one hundred eighty zlotys, 00/100).

In connection with this grant, Bolesławiec County concluded with the Healthcare Centre in Bolesławiec agreement no. ORG.147/20 of 27 March 2020.

Expenditure from the county budget incurred by Bolesławiec County to combat the infection, prevent its spread, provide prevention and combat the effects of the infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus known as “COVID-19”

  • PLN 66,133.15 intended for the purchase of 5 rolls with an area of 7,392 m² of 100% polypropylene nonwoven fabric with a weight of 50 g and a width of 320 cm, and 120 units of 5-litre Bomasept disinfectant from “PPHU MEDUZA Grzegorz Przystarz”, based in Bolesławiec
  • PLN 2,202.63 intended for the purchase of articles necessary to adapt rooms into quarantine facilities for at least 50 people in Bolesławiec County from “SERWIS-PAK Roman Sobolski”, based in Bolesławiec
  • PLN 20,545.92 intended for the purchase of 6 rolls with an area of 4,800 m² of 100% polypropylene nonwoven fabric with a weight of 35 g and a width of 320 cm from “PPHU MEDUZA Grzegorz Przystarz”, based in Bolesławiec
  • PLN 126,718.91 intended for the sewing of 4,259 coveralls and 13,100 protective masks by “Przedsiębiorstwo Produkcyjno-Handlowo-Usługowe “EDIR” S.C.”, based in Bolesławiec
  • PLN 800,000.00 – a targeted grant from the county budget to finance or co-finance the costs of investments and investment purchases by other public finance sector entities, related to combating the infection, preventing its spread, prevention and combating the effects of the infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, known as “COVID-19”, namely the implementation of the task entitled “Reconstruction of the buildings of the Healthcare Centre in Bolesławiec, including adapting hospital ward rooms to provide services to patients suspected of infection or hospitalized in connection with COVID-19 infection”.
  • PLN 132,692.40 intended for the sewing of 6,220 coveralls and 2,100 protective masks by “Przedsiębiorstwo Produkcyjno-Handlowo-Usługowe “EDIR” S.C.”, based in Bolesławiec.

In total, PLN 1,148,293.01 has so far been transferred from the budget of Bolesławiec County to prevent and combat COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

Appointment of a person to certify deaths and their causes and issue death certificates in Bolesławiec County (coroner):

In connection with the anticipated increase in deaths resulting from COVID-19, I issued Order No. 86.VI/20 of the Starosta of Bolesławiec of 25 March 2020 on appointing a person to certify deaths and their causes and issue death certificates in Bolesławiec County.

This was necessary to ensure compliance with the obligation arising from Article 11(1) and (2) of the Act of 31 January 1959 on cemeteries and the burial of the deceased (consolidated text of 2019, item 1473, as amended). The measures taken were intended to streamline the certification of deaths and their causes through examination and the issuing of death certificates, particularly during the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus causing COVID-19:

As a consequence of the order, an agreement with a physician, no. ORG.146/20, dated 27 March 2020, was concluded.

Due to the resignation submitted by the physician providing the services, I issued Order No. 87.VI/20 of the Starosta of Bolesławiec of 6 April 2020 on dismissing the person appointed to certify deaths and their causes and issue death certificates in Bolesławiec County. As a result, agreement no. ORG.146/20 was terminated on 6 April 2020.

I subsequently issued Order No. 88.VI/20 of the Starosta of Bolesławiec of 6 April 2020 on appointing a person to certify deaths and their causes and issue death certificates in Bolesławiec County. As a result, agreement no. ORG.162/20 with a physician was concluded on 6 April 2020.

Providing quarantine facilities.

Under the aforementioned Order No. 540 of the Lower Silesian Voivode of 11 October 2019, the Starosta of Bolesławiec was required to develop quarantine facilities and ensure the operation of the facility during quarantine.

Pursuant to the order of the Lower Silesian Voivode of 9 March 2020, referring to Article 11(1) of the Act of 2 March 2020 on special arrangements related to preventing, counteracting and combating COVID-19, other infectious diseases and the crisis situations caused by them (Journal of Laws of 2020, item 374), on 10 March 2020 the Starosta of Bolesławiec established two collective quarantine facilities in the county for a total of 55 people.

The first collective quarantine facility is located in Pavilion No. 9 of the Regional Hospital for the Nervously and Mentally Ill in Bolesławiec and has capacity for 30 people.

The second (reserve) collective quarantine facility was designated at the Municipal Sports and Recreation Centre in Bolesławiec, at 24 Spacerowa Street, with capacity for 25 people.

The facilities designated for collective quarantine are intended for people who have crossed the border and have nowhere to undergo quarantine during their first 14 days in Poland.

To date, 11 people have stayed at the Regional Hospital for the Nervously and Mentally Ill in Bolesławiec. The quarantine facility at the Municipal Sports and Recreation Centre has not yet been activated.

The costs arising from the establishment and operation of collective quarantine facilities in Bolesławiec County are covered by the budget of the Lower Silesian Voivode under agreement no. 1/BZ/BOL/COVID-19/2020 concluded on 17 April 2020.

The costs of maintaining collective quarantine facilities at the Regional Hospital amount to PLN 125 per person per day, of which PLN 120 is allocated to operating the quarantine facility. The remainder covers the costs incurred for cleaning products for the people staying there.

According to data from 11 May 2020 at 12:00, 510 people were in home quarantine in Bolesławiec County, of whom 184 were monitored through an app. Of the total number of people in home quarantine, 174 were referred by the sanitary inspectorate. At present, 148 coronavirus cases have been confirmed.

Support from the military.

Pursuant to the order of the Lower Silesian Voivode of 9 April, referring to Article 11(1) of the Act of 2 March 2020 on special arrangements related to preventing, counteracting and combating COVID-19, other infectious diseases and the crisis situations caused by them (Journal of Laws of 2020, item 374, for the purpose of combating the infectious disease COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, concerning the provision of temporary accommodation and meals for the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland taking part in counteracting the spread of COVID-19), the Starosta of Bolesławiec provided accommodation at the School Dormitory at 7 Ogrodowa Street in Bolesławiec for 19 Territorial Defence Forces soldiers who were assigned to Bolesławiec County to support the activities of the Bolesławiec County Police Headquarters. Meals for the accommodated soldiers were organized through the 23rd Artillery Regiment in Bolesławiec.

Pursuant to the order of the Lower Silesian Voivode of 27 April, referring to Article 11(1) of the Act of 2 March 2020 on special arrangements related to preventing, counteracting and combating COVID-19, other infectious diseases and the crisis situations caused by them (Journal of Laws of 2020, item 374, for the purpose of combating the infectious disease COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, concerning the provision of temporary accommodation and meals for the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland taking part in counteracting the spread of COVID-19), the Starosta of Bolesławiec provided accommodation at the School Dormitory at 7 Ogrodowa Street in Bolesławiec for an additional five soldiers assigned to help carry out the County Hospital’s tasks. Meals were also provided through the 23rd Artillery Regiment in Bolesławiec.

Total number of supporting soldiers:

  • 19 Territorial Defence Forces soldiers – from 5 April 2020 to the present
  • 5 soldiers (officer cadets) – from 13 April 2020 to 4 May 2020

The costs related to the stay of the above-mentioned soldiers will be covered by the budget of the Lower Silesian Voivode. The daily cost of accommodation at the school dormitory was estimated at PLN 10.

Distribution of disinfectants.

On 5 May 2020, Bolesławiec County received 1,620 litres of disinfectant from the Lower Silesian Voivode via the Bolesławiec County Police Headquarters (3×5-litre cartons). So far, 560 litres have been distributed to educational institutions that opened on 6 May and are scheduled to open on 11 and 18 May 2020. Institutions scheduled to open on 25 May 2020 will receive disinfectants in the coming days. The disinfectants were delivered by Territorial Defence Forces soldiers from the Lower Silesian Voivode.

Other forms of assistance.

I would also like to inform you, Members of the County Council, that the County Office in Bolesławiec supports the administration of the county hospital, when needs are reported by its management, by seconding County Office employees to perform administrative work for the hospital.

The County Office also distributes personal protective equipment to municipalities, particularly to services operating within the municipalities, such as the police and fire service.

On 11 May this year, I spoke with the Lower Silesian Voivode, Jarosław Obremski. The Voivode informed me that he had decided to transfer PLN 450,000.00 to Bolesławiec County as reimbursement for expenditure incurred on investment work at SP ZOZ in Bolesławiec. In addition to the grant for the county hospital, the Lower Silesian Voivode will transfer PLN 50,000.00 to Bolesławiec County to support construction work at the Regional Hospital in Bolesławiec. I also agreed with the Voivode that I would second County Office employees to support the County Sanitary and Epidemiological Station in Bolesławiec.

Starosta of Bolesławiec
Tomasz Gabrysiak