Cystic Fibrosis patients are regularly monitored in specialized Cystic Fibrosis Centers, where they are hospitalized and receive specialized medical care.
The Association contributes to the development of the Centres and actively supports their work, in constant cooperation with the responsible doctors and staff. The aim is to ensure better care and hospital conditions for patients.
Adult CF unit of the General Hospital "Sismanoglio"
Following the initiatives of the Association and in continuous cooperation with the hospital administration, the doctors in charge and the staff of the Unit, the Association has actively contributed to the creation and organization of the largest adult CF Unit in the country at the “Sismanoglio” hospital, where more than 300 patients with Cystic Fibrosis, i.e. 80% of the adult patients in the country, are monitored.
- In 2013, after information, constant pressure from the Association and cooperation with the hospital administration and the competent bodies, an independent ward for patients with C.I. was delivered with 11 wards, permanent nursing staff, secretariat, doctors’ offices, warehouse.
- Since 2013, the Association has gradually installed single-door small refrigerators and flat-screen TVs in all the wards of the Unit, following donations from individuals and companies. He also placed static bicycles in the patients’ wards to enhance their daily exercise needs.
- On the initiative of the Association, in 2013, through funding from Child Health International (CHI), the program of linking the C.I. Unit of Sismanoglio with the specialized Adult C.I. Unit of the Southampton Hospital in England was launched, without any cost to the Greek state. The aim is the continuous exchange and training of specialized staff in the disease (pulmonologists, nurses, physiotherapists, etc.) and the exchange of know-how between the two Centres. More on the CHI website
here
and
here
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The Association continues to support the Unit with interventions both for its staffing and for its development in terms of infrastructure and equipment.
Adult CF unit of the General Hospital "Papanikolaou"
The second specialised CF Centre in the country, where adult patients are treated, is housed in the Papanikolaou Hospital in Thessaloniki. He is monitoring more than 60 adult patients with Cystic Fibrosis from all over Northern Greece, from Evros to Epirus.
The operation of the Centre indirectly has a positive impact on all adult patients, since the Centre decongests the Adult Unit of the Sismanoglio Hospital, where the vast majority of the country’s patients are treated.
- Since 2013, the Association has made continuous interventions to the Ministry of Health, achieving the official recognition of the Intersectoral Cystic Fibrosis Centre of the University of Thessaloniki, to which the Papanicolaou Cystic Fibrosis Centre belongs.
- In 2017 the Association covered the salary costs of the part-time secretariat of the Centre. This particular intervention was attempted for the first time in the history of the department, with the aim of directly improving the services provided to the adult patients being monitored.
- Through Child Health International’s project, which was initiated by the Association, to link up with the specialized Adult C.I. Unit of the Southampton Hospital in England, in 2019 the Centre’s pulmonologist was trained for 3 months in Southampton to take up the position of the Centre’s manager.
- From 2017 to date, the Association covers the costs of the telephone line and internet in the wards of the Centre, so that patients can maintain uninterrupted communication with relatives and friends during their hospitalization.
The Association’s interventions continue so that the Centre can be further developed.
CF Department of Children Hospital "Aghia Sophia"
The CF Department at the Aghia Sophia Children’s Hospital is the largest pediatric center for Cystic Fibrosis in Greece, where more than 300 children are treated.
Since its foundation in 1983, the Panhellenic Cystic Fibrosis Association has supported the Department throughout the years. It has made continuous interventions for the staffing of the Department with medical personnel, as well as various donations to cover the Department’s equipment needs.
The Association continues to support any need that arises in constant collaboration with the doctors of the Department.
Department of CF, General Hospital "Hippokratio"
It is the second organized monitoring department for children with Cystic Fibrosis in Greece, where more than 100 children with Cystic Fibrosis from Northern Greece are monitored.
With continuous interventions to the Ministry of Health, the Association managed to obtain the official recognition of the Intersectoral Cystic Fibrosis Centre of the University of Thessaloniki, to which the C.I. Centre of Thessaloniki “Hippocrates” belongs.
The Association actively supports and participates in every action of support and strengthening of the Department, through the excellent cooperation with the doctors and staff that staff it.