Will not tolerate indiscipline by junior doctors: Mamata

“The junior doctors must be taught how to behave soberly with the people and maintain their cool while treating patients at the hospital,” Chief Minister told hospital authorities.

Banerjee’s visit coincides with a time when there was an agitation conducted by junior doctors following a clash that broke out on late Monday night between them and some relatives of a patient who allegedly died of negligence.

Banerjee also expressed her annoyance while paying a surprise visit to SSKM Hospital on Tuesday morning after some patients and their relatives at emergency ward complained to her about health services which are not up to the mark.

The Chief Minister who looked visibly angry during her visit had asked the hospital authorities to ensure the basic health facilities to the patients. “Thousands of patients are coming to the hospitals for treatment. You must provide them basic health services,” Chief Minister warned the senior officials of the hospital. She has also given out a strong message to the junior doctors who were taking part in the agitation. She stepped into the hospital at around 12.25 pm. Seeing the Chief Minister outside the emergency department, the patients and their relatives told her about the problems they were facing. The senior officials of the hospital reached the spot by that time.

She also asked the Officer-in-Charge of Kalighat police station who was accompanying her to ensure that there is no trouble at the hospital and the reminded him by saying that “I am closely monitoring the situation.”

She, later on the day, asked Aroop Biswas, the Youth Affairs minister and health secretary RS Shukla to visit the hospital to tackle the situation. They went to the spot and tried to pacify the agitating students. Following their intervention, the junior doctors on Tuesday evening lifted their demonstration, as the senior health department officials assured them the security issues will be looked at. The senior health officials will also examine the role of some junior doctors who were seen carrying sticks.

The junior doctors on Tuesday gheraoed the SSKM Director and the Director of Medical Education Sushanta Banerjee throughout the day protesting against the assault on the junior doctors by the patients’ relatives.

Negligence in the treatment of patients have been alleged which eventually leads to their death in the hospital. The victim, Ashoke Ram, a resident of Bhowanipore was admitted to the hospital with fever on Sunday. The patient died on Monday night following which some relatives of the patient allegedly manhandled the junior doctors inside the ward. It has also been alleged that the junior doctors also beat up the relatives of the patient. This had led to a clash between the patient’s relatives and the junior doctors. Police reached the spot to tackle the situation. They have arrested three persons in this connection so far.