ZOZ Bolesławiec:
In addition to providing daily care for young patients, the department is developing and acquiring modern medical equipment. Despite having a full complement of paediatricians and neonatologists, as well as experienced nursing staff, it is still seeking specialists who would like to become permanently associated with paediatrics in Bolesławiec or work as consultants.
What are the department’s priorities?
Hospital: “Rapid diagnosis using modern equipment and swiftly establishing a treatment pathway in Bolesławiec, without the need to transport children to specialist centres, are the priorities for the near future.”
“The paediatrician mainly sees children with sudden, acute infections with a severe course,” says Aleksandra Kopczyńska, Head of the Paediatric Department. “The second group consists of children with chronic illnesses who require specialist, often highly complex diagnostics. A child is a special kind of patient. It is impossible to conduct a reliable medical interview with a young child. We rely on what their—often terrified—parents tell us. And already in the admissions room, we need to know as much as possible about the child’s condition.”
Due to the type of illness and its stage of advancement, many children require treatment at clinical centres. PIMS—paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome following infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus—is being diagnosed increasingly often. It is caused by an immune reaction (the response of the immune system) to COVID-19, appearing 2–4 weeks after infection, including an asymptomatic infection. The illness resembles an infection, but it is not contagious, and its symptoms may involve multiple systems, including the circulatory, digestive and nervous systems.
Children in very serious conditions also arrive at the paediatric department in Bolesławiec, including those with sepsis, acute leukaemia, kidney stones, aggravated diabetes or thrombocytopenia. “Recently, a patient with an intestinal obstruction was admitted to us. It was a life-threatening condition,” says Aleksandra Kopczyńska. Due to comorbidities and the child’s poor condition, immediately after diagnosis the child was transported by the Polish Medical Air Rescue service to Warsaw.
Due to the pandemic, children’s access to paediatricians is significantly more difficult. ZOZ:
At outpatient clinics, periodic health checks and vaccinations are being delayed or postponed. As a result, children are examined by doctors less frequently, while the detection and diagnosis of concerning symptoms in children are initiated later.
“Due to the difficult access to paediatricians, our department plans to introduce a diagnostic testing programme for the youngest children,” says Aleksandra Kopczyńska. “Any parent concerned about their child’s health will be able to bring them to the hospital. As part of a one- or several-day hospital stay, we will carry out paediatric diagnostics and the package of tests needed to establish a diagnosis. No referral will be required, only telephone registration.”
Hospital:
We will provide you with the details shortly.