SSKM's Woodburn block to receive major facelift soon

Kolkata: The Woodburn block of SSKM Hospital may soon get a major facelift, as the state Health department has taken up renovation work of the unit.

Work has been going on at a portion of the Woodburn block, which is likely to be completed by the end of this month. Renovation work would be started in the other portion after the first phase gets completed.

According to a senior official of the hospital, all the cabins would be given a new look and there would be a major infrastructural reform.

As per the plan, a television would be installed at each cabin of the block. There will be drinking water facility inside the cabin.

Patients undergoing treatment at the block would be able to draw the attention of on-duty doctors or nurses by pressing a bell, the switch of which would be fitted by the side of his/her bed.

Landline phone facility would also be installed in each cabin. However, the patients will not be able to call their family members by using the phones, as calls would be restricted within certain departments of the hospital. The patients can place their order for food by dialing a particular number.

There will be extra security arrangement at the Woodburn wards. According to sources, a museum will also be set up at the block, which would display some old documents and other items related to the hospital.

It may be mentioned that Woodburn block is often visited by VIPs. However, general people can also book beds at the block, where they have to pay a certain amount for the treatment and to get some more facilities than are standard.

Woodburn currently has a capacity of 45 beds. There are some plans to increase the number of beds at the block, so that more patients can be accommodated there.

A senior official of SSKM said that work of the first phase would be completed within March this year. Some more facilities will also be coming up in the block for the benefit of patients.