On 26 February 2026, councillors of Zgorzelec County voted by a majority in favour of the merger of the county hospitals in Bolesławiec and Zgorzelec.
– However, this is looking at the matter through the prism of the interests of the hospital in Zgorzelec – comments Radosław Palczewski, a councillor of Bolesławiec County Council. – This perspective does not necessarily coincide with Bolesławiec’s perspective. To me, it is clear that the hospital in Bolesławiec is “on an upward trajectory”. That does not mean I fail to see the threats that may arise. As councillors, we have no objective study which, after assessing the situation of both hospitals, would indicate the need for a merger. We are therefore relying on the position of director Kamil Barczyk, supported by the position of starosta Tomasz Gabrysiak. However, I am not yet convinced that the merger will bring only benefits and help us navigate the “rough waters” building up ahead of our hospital.
Bolesławiec councillors differ greatly in their approach to the merger of the hospitals.
– Some of us ask about financial matters, while others ask about employment matters – says Radosław Palczewski. – Above all, I adopt the patient’s perspective. I am interested in what will improve in Bolesławiec. I am concerned that neither the starosta nor the hospital director wants to put in writing the goals that the merger of our hospitals is supposed to achieve, so that we can assess whether the merger produces the results we are talking about. So we do not know what will be created, because the starosta insists that nothing will be closed. We do not know whether handing our hospital over to Wrocław will provide patients in Bolesławiec with anything tangible?
At the February session, Councillor Palczewski asked Kamil Barczyk about the matters troubling him.
– I received an answer that, following the merger, an ophthalmology clinic and a chemotherapy ward will be established in Bolesławiec – the councillor reports. – That is already some added value. We are also expecting substantial funds from the budget of the Minister of Health from the “for the merger” allocation, which we want to use for investments. Whether that is a lot or a little, everyone can decide for themselves. Zgorzelec has completed the procedure; they want the merger. We in Bolesławiec are still working on it. At the March county council session, we will have to decide on the matter – added the Civic Coalition local-government representative.