In Lviv, the city-wide campaign “Check-up for Children”, which ran from 15 July to 15 September, has come to an end. During this period, paediatric ophthalmologists, surgeons and neurologists carried out 5,141 appointments, according to the summary from the Health Department of Lviv City Council.
Schoolchildren made the most active use of the opportunity, accounting for 4,321 appointments. A further 803 consultations were for pre-school children. Following every fourth consultation, doctors recommended additional tests because of identified health risks.
The campaign was organised to make it easier for parents to complete preventive check-ups before the start of the school year. On designated days, paediatric ophthalmologists, neurologists and surgeons were seeing patients at the same time in medical facilities. After an examination by a family doctor or paediatrician and with an electronic referral to a specialist, children could be seen without a prior appointment, on a first-come, first-served basis.
Healthcare facilities from both of Lviv’s territorial medical associations took part in “Check-up for Children”. The First TMA conducted 2,552 appointments, and the Second — 2,589. At the same time, doctors consider the main outcome not to be the total number of consultations, but the cases where, after a routine examination, a child needed further diagnostics.
In total, under the campaign, doctors issued 1,294 referrals for additional examinations. This is 25.2% of all appointments — effectively every fourth consultation. The greatest need for further tests was identified after appointments with paediatric ophthalmologists — 584 referrals (45.1% of all referrals). Another 458 referrals (35.4%) were issued following surgeons’ examinations and 252 (19.5%) after consultations with neurologists.
Head of the Health Department of Lviv City Council Marta Matiushko noted that the campaign format proved convenient for parents, as it allowed them to see several specialists in one day and in one facility. She stressed that the large number of referrals for further tests confirms the importance of regular preventive check-ups even when a child has no complaints.
The Health Department explained that the idea for this format emerged during the work of the city task force on children and the protection of their rights. Participants discussed the fact that not all families systematically undergo medical examinations before the school year, so it was decided to make this procedure as accessible as possible: to introduce additional appointment hours for specialists, to allow visits without a prior booking, and to combine several consultations in one medical facility.
According to Marta Matiushko, more than five thousand appointments in two months confirmed that there is demand for this format, so the possibility of continuing the campaign next year is already being considered, taking into account the experience gained and parents’ feedback.
In the near future, Lviv residents will again be able to have their health checked free of charge. From 22 to 26 September, Lviv will host “Health Week”. At 33 locations in different parts of the community, residents will be able to undergo a range of examinations free of charge and check key health indicators.