Tension grips Barasat hospital after 8-year-old boy’s death

Tension broke out at Barasat hospital on Wednesday following the death of an 8-year-old boy due to alleged negligence of hospital authorities.

Rameez Raja, a relative of the deceased, said the hospital authorities had referred the baby to Calcutta Medical College and Hospital. He also requested the hospital authorities to provide free ambulance service. But when he reached the stand where the free ambulance was available, the drivers asked him to pay Rs 750 as tips. 

When he came back and narrated the whole episode to the hospital super, he allegedly told him to settle the issue with the ambulance driver. Meanwhile, the boy’s condition deteriorated and finally he died. Once the news of his death spread, the relatives went to the area and beat up the ambulance driver who asked for money.   

They also demonstrated outside the hospital super’s office. They said the death could have been averted had the hospital authorities been more responsible. The doctors of the hospital said the boy was suffering from breathing problem and was vomiting. Dr Pralay Acharya, CMOH, Hooghly said he was looking into the matter. He said that under no circumstances the driver of free ambulance service could ask for money. The errant driver was not given duty on Wednesday.

Relatives of other patients admitted to the hospital alleged that the drivers often refuse to take patients and ask for money.