Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Switzerland's decentralised healthcare system delegates responsibility for paediatric hospital infrastructure to individual cantons. To date, official statistics on the number and types of paediatric hospital beds are lacking. OBJECTIVE: This study sought to fill this gap by collecting and analysing data from all paediatric hospitals in Switzerland. METHODS: A nationwide cross-sectional e-mail survey was conducted in January 2023. Data on both structurally available and operated beds were collected and descriptively analysed. RESULTS: The survey identified a total of 1751 beds in 29 paediatric hospitals or departments, of which 85% were operated. Of the total beds, 112 were paediatric intensive care unit beds (80% operated) and 339 were neonatology beds (86% operated). Significant regional disparities in bed availability were identified: the Lake Geneva region has the highest bed-to-child ratios, while Central Switzerland, Eastern Switzerland and Ticino show notably lower ratios. CONCLUSION: These findings highlight the current distribution of paediatric beds, the considerable proportion of non-operated beds, and the importance of continued, comprehensive data collection to inform healthcare planning.
Source: Swiss Medical Weekly
DOI: 10.57187/s.4458
Authors: Juliane Wurm, Christoph Berger, Vera Bernet, Simon Fluri, Magali Gauthey, Peter Gessler, Matthias V. Kopp, Juan Llor, Vincent Muehlethaler, Klara Posfay-Barbe, Guido F. Laube, Roger P. Lauener, Bjarte Rogdo, Rotraud K. Saurenmann, Giacomo D. Simonetti, Fabian Spigariol, Maren Tomaske, Rodo O. Von Vigier, Abdelaziz Zemmouri, Petra Zimmermann, Urs Zimmermann, Henrik Koehler, Nicole Ritz
Institutions: HFR Freiburg Kantonsspital, Luzerner Kantonsspital, University of Zurich, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Spital Zollikerberg, Hôpital de la Tour, Kantonsspital Münsterlingen, University of Bern, University Hospital of Bern, Hôpital de Sion, Hôpital du Valais, University of Geneva, University Hospital of Geneva, Kantonsspital Baden, University of St.Gallen, Ostschweizer Kinderspital, Kantonsspital Graubünden, Kantonsspital Winterthur, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Università della Svizzera italiana, Hospital Neuchâtel, Triemli Hospital, Stadtspital Zürich, Spitalzentrum Centre hospitalier Biel- Bienne, Hôpital de Morges, University of Fribourg, University of Lucerne, University Children’s Hospital Basel, Kantonsspital Aarau, University of Basel
Language: English
Subfield: General Health Professions
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4415525544
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