Facilities and equipment in district general hospitals in the Netherlands: Are we prepared for the critically ill paediatric patients?

Objective: To evaluate the inventory for initial treatment of critically ill children. Design: Prospective study. Setting: Paediatric emergency settings in 15 major district general hospitals. Methods: Using an “expert opinion” created by paediatric intensivists, all hospitals were visited twice to check the inventory. Firstly, to examine the initial site of emergency care for children coming from outside the hospital. Secondly, to visit other emergency sites. A total score below 75% of the optimum was considered as not optimally equipped. Main results: Equipment to meet “respiratory problems”... Mehr ...