RG Kar Hospital to resume operations in old emergency ward after 18 months

Kolkata: The Medical Superintendent of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital has stated that the process to resume operations in the hospital’s old emergency ward has begun. The old emergency ward had been shut down following an act of vandalism on the night of August 14, 2024, which occurred after a third-year postgraduate trainee at the hospital was brutally raped and murdered.Also Read: Patient dies after being forced to walk at RG Kar Hospital, family alleges negligenceSince then, the emergency ward has operated on the ground floor of the hospital’s trauma care building. However, this was a short-term arrangement intended to last for only a few months. But this temporary arrangement has now lasted for 18 months. The shortcomings of the existing emergency unit came to light when a 61-year-old patient recently passed away. The patient had been asked to use a ‘pay-and-use’ restroom located outside the building. He walked to the restroom, which was situated approximately 50 meters away from the building. The patient was experiencing difficulty breathing. Consequently, while heading to the washroom, blood suddenly began to flow from his nose and mouth, and he collapsed right there, reports the Telegraph.Meanwhile, Saptarshi Chatterjee, Medical Superintendent and Vice-Principal of RG Kar, said, “It would be premature to say at this stage when it will be reopened. We have extensive cleaning and repair work to carry out. Some civil and electrical works also remain pending.””We will plan whether operations will start in phases or all together. The cleaning work will start once we get clearance from investigating agencies,” Chatterjee added.Along with this, Trinesh Mondal, a representative of junior residents, said, “The old emergency ward will be inspected on April 2. A detailed assessment of what needs to be done will be planned after the visit”. On Wednesday, the college held a meeting with representatives of PWD engineers, police officers, and junior doctors.Also Read: RG Kar Hospital Lift Tragedy: Engineers questioned over maintenance SOPs