The Pediatric Rehabilitation Hospital in Jastrzębie-Zdrój, a vital institution treating over 100 young patients daily, faces imminent closure. New regulations proposed by the Ministry of Health drastically limit the scope of services covered, reducing eligible conditions from 33 pages to just 5.5 pages. According to hospital director Jerzy Piotrowski, this significant cut would lead to financial losses from the first month, potentially forcing closure within three months.
Daily Operations Under Threat
The hospital operates a 60-bed inpatient ward and a 50-patient daily rehabilitation center. Despite being self-sustaining, the proposed changes would make it financially unviable. Concerned parents and local authorities, including Jastrzębie-Zdrój’s mayor Michał Urgoł, have launched appeals and collected signatures to save the facility.
The closure would affect not only the children and families who rely on these services but also the hospital’s staff and its reputation built over years. As Mayor Urgoł noted, while staff might find jobs elsewhere, the loss of such a specialized facility would leave a void in regional healthcare.
For now, the implementation of new regulations has been postponed for six months, offering a temporary reprieve. The local community and hospital advocates await further discussions and decisions from the Ministry of Health.