Vandalism at agitation-hit SSKM as hospital struggles to cope with emergency situations
Times of India | 3 September 2024
Kolkata: Delayed admission of two persons injured during a firing at Babughat led to vandalism by their kin at the SSKM trauma care unit in the early hours of Monday. Subsequently, disruptions continued in the emergency unit due to cease work by doctors protesting against the RG Kar rape-murder. Several patients had to wait for long, either on trolleys or inside ambulances, before moved to other hospitals in the city.
The relatives of Arif Ali and Asif Ali alleged the hospital staff kept the duo outside for a long time when they needed medical treatment around 3 am on Monday.The condition of one of them was stated to be critical. The irate kin allegedly caused a ruckus in the trauma care unit and broke window panes. However, hospital staff and cops reportedly brought the situation under control quickly.
Noor Alam, a relative of Asif said, “We had been waiting for long to get them admitted but none was attending to them. Asif was writhing in pain. We kept requesting the cops and hospital staff to admit him. When th-ey paid no heed, some relatives lost their cool and broke glass panes. After this, both patients were wheeled in.”
A civic volunteer said, “We tried to explain to the patients’ kin they would have to wait as a doctor was attending to others. But they did not listen and tried to barge in. We stopped them and they went on the rampage.”
On a visit to the hospital’s emergency ward, TOI found that patients were being taken inside on trolleys from ambulances and taken out soon after due to the “unavailability of doctors and beds.” Arambagh resident Soumen Murmu, who was referred to SSKM from a local hospital, said, “I have been waiting for admission since morning but no doctor is available. I am going to Medical College but I’m not sure if I will manage to get admitted there.”
Gautam Ghosh brought his ailing mother to Kolkata from Habra in an ambulance. After being turned away by two hospitals, he took her to SSKM. “Despite waiting outside the emergency ward for four hours, I could not admit her. I did not come across any doctor inside and the hospital staff told me that no bed is available. So, I am taking her to NRS Hospital,” Ghosh said.