After fire trauma, 49 of 91 patients shifted to another hosp 4km away
Times of India | 19 October 2024
Kolkata: Forty-nine of the 91 patients, who were hurriedly brought out to safety as a fire broke out at ESI Hospital, Sealdah, on Friday morning, were later put on ambulances and hospital buses and driven around 4km to ESI Hospital, Maniktala for further treatment. Among them, a large number were cancer patients and those receiving orthopaedic treatment.
While some of the remaining 42 patients were admitted to corporate facilities that have tie-ups with ESI, most of the others were taken back inside ESI, Sealdah, once it was safe and housed in secure wards.
Some decided to leave for home.
“It was sheer good luck that we had fewer patients than usual as is the case during the festive season. That is why we had vacancies and could take in the 49 patients from ESI, Sealdah. Treatment has started for all of them, including cancer patients. Our team as well as healthcare workers from ESI Hospital Sealdah are taking care of them,” said Mayukh Roy, deputy director planning and the medical superintendent in-charge at ESI Hospital, Maniktala. Among the 500 sanctioned beds, the Maniktala facility has 422 functional beds. As the number of surgeries and admissions had been low, it was possible to admit all the 49 patients sent here, said another official.
While the patients were relieved to have escaped any harm, they remained visibly shaken. Sayoni Chakraborty from Dum Dum, whose husband, Sumit Chakraborty, was admitted to ESI Sealdah, said when they heard about the fire news, they did not know how to reach the basement safely. She said they had also started having breathing trouble amid the smoke. “It was scary. But we were brought out to safety. The hospital officials managed to arrange for ambulances and buses. My husband was among those who were shifted to the other hospital,” said Chakraborty.
Some were worried about the length of time they would have to be in hospital after the shift. Dipankar Biswas, who was scheduled to undergo a post-accident surgery on Saturday was admitted to ESI Sealdah on Thursday. From there, he was shifted to ESI, Maniktala. “I don’t know when I will undergo the surgery. My wife and I need to get back to work soon as my livelihood is at stake,” said Biswas.
Moni Sapui, a patient requiring palliative care who has been shifted to ESI Maniktala, said, “I was so used to the doctors and nurses at ESI Sealdah. I hope to come back here next week.”
Others, like Ashok Das, decided to return home. “I had been admitted here for four days. I can rest at home now,” said Das.
Roy from Maniktala and Aditi Das, medical superintendent of ESI Sealdah, said all kinds of support were being given to calm down the traumatised patients. “In fact one of our nurses, who was taking care of patients, had to be hospitalised as she suffered a panic attack. We are giving all kinds of support to handle their trauma,” said Das.