Siliguri, Oct. 23 -- A total of 127 patients died at North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH) during the six-day Puja period from October 16 to 21. However, hospital authorities said the number should not be considered alarming, claiming that most of the deceased were critically ill patients referred from other hospitals and nursing homes at an advanced stage of their illnesses.

According to hospital sources, eight of the 127 patients died in the Emergency department before they could be admitted.

The number of deaths has increased compared to last year. Last year, 77 patients died at the hospital during the Puja period. The increase in the numbers has raised questions over the availability of doctors, particularly senior physicians, during the festival holidays.

A duty roster had reportedly been prepared in advance to ensure uninterrupted medical services during the Puja holidays. However, questions have been raised over whether an adequate number of senior doctors were present as per the roster. Junior doctors have also expressed concerns, claiming that they were instructed to strictly follow their assigned schedules and were not allowed to exchange duties.

Dr Kaushik Ishore, the Superintendent of the hospital, however, dismissed allegations of negligence or inadequate medical services.

"We all worked together at the hospital during the Puja days. There was no shortage of treatment or management-related lapses. I have looked into the matter in detail. Most of the patients who died had been referred from different hospitals and nursing homes in the surrounding areas in critical condition," he said.

According to hospital sources, a large number of critically ill patients were referred to NBMCH from various hospitals and nursing homes during the Puja holidays. The Medicine department recorded a comparatively high number of deaths. Several patients suffering from severe kidney and liver ailments, as well as cardiac arrest, were among those referred to the medical college.

The superintendent claimed that in some cases, patients could have continued treatment at the referring nursing homes but were instead sent to NBMCH.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.