On Wednesday, 24 February, a conference was held in front of the COVID ward of the County Hospital in Bolesławiec to summarize a year of fighting the coronavirus pandemic. Among those present at the conference were the Marshal of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship Cezary Przybylski, Deputy Marshal of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship Marcin Krzyżanowski, Deputy Chairperson of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship Assembly Andrzej Kredkowski, the authorities of Bolesławiec County, including County Head Tomasz Gabrysiak, Mayor of Bolesławiec Piotr Roman and Director of the County Hospital Kamil Barczyk, as well as hospital staff.
Due to the difficult epidemiological situation, it became necessary to create as many hospital beds as possible for people infected with the coronavirus, including ventilator stations. By decision of the Lower Silesian Voivode, on 16 March 2020 the Health Care Complex in Bolesławiec was transformed into a dedicated infectious diseases hospital.
Today, the Bolesławiec hospital is the second-largest diagnostic and treatment facility and one of the main centers for treating COVID-19 patients in Lower Silesia. It provides 88 beds for patients with suspected or confirmed infection, including 18 intensive care beds equipped with cardiac monitors and capable of providing oxygen therapy and mechanical ventilation.
The hospital in Bolesławiec is one of the few facilities in Poland to provide medical services related to the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 comprehensively: its own imaging diagnostics, a molecular biology PCR laboratory, 12 field swab collection points, three swab ambulances, a temporary hospital and an infectious diseases ward. This is where the largest number of patients on ventilators are treated.
All this was made possible by numerous grants and co-financing from the Regional Operational Programme of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship (RPO WD), administered by the Marshal’s Office of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. Under the first project, Bolesławiec received funding of PLN 6,176,482.61. This money made it possible to establish a molecular laboratory and equip the wards with equipment necessary to fight the coronavirus.
Once again, the hospital received more than PLN 8.2 million from RPO WD to purchase a modular infectious diseases ward together with the necessary equipment. During the second wave of the pandemic, the Health Care Complex in Bolesławiec did not close its doors to patients unaffected by COVID-19 who sought help. From October 2020 to 20 February 2021, the hospital provided health services to a total of 26,368 people from all over Poland. They included both hospitalized patients and those using specialist outpatient clinics and outpatient treatment. During the same period, 902 patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were hospitalized.
Availability, quality of services, comprehensiveness and safety are the most important principles governing the provision of healthcare in Bolesławiec. All the activities and the example of full commitment to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic are making the hospital a leader in regional healthcare. Sound strategic decision-making, high effectiveness and cooperation with all local authorities and voivodeship authorities are examples of a well-considered strategy for public health and an individual approach to the needs of every patient.