RG Kar Medical College Emergency Unit Sees Drastic Drop in Patient Numbers
The Emergency unit at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata witnessed a dramatic decline in patient footfall on Tuesday, with numbers falling to approximately half of the usual daily average. This significant drop has raised concerns among medical staff and observers, particularly in light of two recent tragic incidents at the hospital.
Sharp Decline in Emergency Visits
Typically, the Emergency unit handles an average of 200 patients daily. However, on Tuesday, this number plummeted to around 100 patients. While hospital officials suggested that such fluctuations in emergency patient counts are normal, many doctors believe the recent deaths have directly impacted public confidence.
"I am staying on the hospital premises for about eight days as my nephew is admitted in the Trauma Care building for accident-related multiple injuries," said Abdul Hossain Sardar, a resident of Kamalpur. "While the surroundings of the building are always bustling with patients' relatives, today it looks quiet."
Recent Tragic Incidents at the Hospital
The decline follows two separate fatal incidents that occurred within days of each other. On Friday, a 40-year-old man named Arup Banerjee was crushed to death in a lift accident in the Trauma Care building. Banerjee had brought his three-year-old son, who had sustained an arm injury, to the hospital. He, along with his wife and child, became trapped in the malfunctioning lift. While the mother and child survived, Banerjee died in what has been described as a freak accident.
On Monday, another patient, Biswajit Samanta, collapsed and died at the door of a pay-and-use toilet. Reports indicate that Samanta, who was experiencing breathing difficulties, had to walk approximately 40 meters and climb a flight of stairs to access bathroom facilities, highlighting critical infrastructure shortcomings in the emergency unit.
Patient Footfall Patterns Before the Drop
Hospital records reveal interesting patterns in emergency visits leading up to Tuesday's sharp decline:
- On Thursday, the Emergency unit recorded 231 patients.
- Following Friday's lift accident, footfall was 208 patients.
- Saturday saw a dip to 188 patients.
- Numbers recovered to 215 on Sunday.
- Monday, the day of Samanta's death, recorded 278 patients.
- Tuesday's count dropped dramatically to just 98 patients.
Patient and Relative Perspectives
Among the few who visited the Emergency unit on Tuesday was Shibu Singh from Nadia, who brought his 12-year-old son for treatment of a hand injury. "I was a bit scared to come here after hearing about the two deaths," Singh admitted. "But I am relieved that my son is getting good medical care."
Relatives of patients expressed relief that both functional lifts now have operators, but they highlighted ongoing concerns about facility limitations. "The doctors are providing good service," said one patient's relative. "But the emergency unit lacks space and facilities, including something basic like a patient toilet that led to the death of a patient."
Broader Implications and Hospital Conditions
The incidents have drawn attention to infrastructure and safety issues at the medical college. The absence of accessible patient toilets in the emergency unit, which forced a gasping patient to undertake a strenuous walk, represents a critical failure in basic healthcare facility management.
While the immediate response has included assigning operators to lifts, the broader questions about patient safety, facility maintenance, and emergency unit capacity remain unanswered. The significant drop in patient footfall suggests that public trust has been shaken, potentially affecting healthcare access for Kolkata residents who rely on this important medical institution.
