Rainwater entering part of the outpatient department at Barrackpore B N Bose Sub-Divisional Hospital has forced the children’s clinic to move temporarily, while shortages of doctors, space and basic operating resources continue to disrupt care, according to a report by Anandabazar – Kolkata published on September 28.
The affected section of the outpatient department is used by paediatric doctors. With rainwater entering the area, the hospital has arranged for children to be treated temporarily in the forensic department on the first floor. Doctors and other healthcare workers told the newspaper that shifting the outpatient department between a verandah and other hospital units is making treatment more difficult and confusing parents arriving with children.
A similar complaint about water dripping into the surgery department had also been raised recently. The hospital’s infrastructure problems were discussed at a meeting of the Rogi Kalyan Samiti last Wednesday, when Barrackpore MLA Kaustav Bagchi sought information about the condition of the facility. The report also noted that an attempt had allegedly been made the previous day to steal the infant daughter of a minor survivor in a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences case from the labour ward. Complaints had also been made about non-functioning surveillance cameras.
The hospital’s outpatient department sees large daily crowds. A complaint was made to the health department last Thursday alleging that the outpatient service had started late and that doctors had not arrived on time. Patients waiting for tickets were also reportedly unaware that an Aadhaar number was mandatory for registration. Some people returned without receiving treatment after standing in line and discovering that they had not brought their Aadhaar cards. A section of patients subsequently asked the hospital to announce the requirement at the gate.
Hospital staff also reported that the ticket-counter printer had run out of ink, forcing tickets to be issued by hand. The area outside the orthopaedics and physiotherapy rooms reportedly lacks adequate seating, while both the number of doctors and the available space are insufficient. Complaints have also been made about a shortage of doctors in the neonatal care unit, surgery services and the mobile healthcare vehicle used for the Duare Swasthya programme.
Limited space is affecting the use of medical equipment, and doctors and nurses are struggling to provide treatment in small rooms, the report said. Vehicles transporting patients sometimes have to be parked outside the hospital gate. Temporary data-entry workers have also approached the authorities over allegedly unpaid salaries for the past two months.
Hospital superintendent Sudipa Bandyopadhyay said the children’s outpatient service had been temporarily shifted and that the other problems were being monitored. She said senior authorities were looking into their resolution. Bagchi said the sub-divisional hospital was important and faced heavy patient pressure, adding that attention had been sought for its infrastructure and that healthcare services and facilities had to be maintained.
