Patient ‘trouble’ at SB Dey Sanatorium

SNS, Kurseong, 17 November 2013: The staff of SB Dey Sanatorium are feeling insecure while doing their duty following the unsociable activities of some patients.

It was learnt that the staff, mainly the nurses of the sanatorium (tuberculosis hospital) have been performing their duties feeling insecure for the past several years, due to the peculiar activities of some patients.

Besides these, it was learnt that some male and female patients do not maintain protocol and visit each other at unusual times. The authorities even claim to have anonymous letters in their possession stating that some patients have sometimes taken extreme steps sexually and acted wildly.

One nurse (name withheld) of the hospital, said: "We have been feeling really insecure during duty hours for the past several years as some patients, sometimes act strangely even talking rudely and delve themselves in un-cooperative activities. Hence, sometimes, even if we do not wish to do so, we have to maintain a distance with them. But still, amidst this tense and insecure atmosphere, we have been continuing with our duties without any complaints."

She added: "Sometimes, some of the patients have also tried to attack us and appear in their rooms in a naked state. When we try to admonish them for their rude manners, they talk about having side effects due to the strong dose of medicines they consume." The SDMO, Mrs M Saha, has confirmed that they have indeed found such letters and it is a matter of grave concern to us all but we have so far not caught anyone red handed. She has further added that they have already written many times to the government for keeping security personnel inside the sanatorium to maintain hospital protocols.

On the other hand, the present patients have claimed that they have been wrongly accused of these activities by the authorities but accept the fact that these type of unsociable environment was there once at the sanatorium.

A patient said that the actors of those times have now already been discharged but the present lot have not followed their footsteps. Hence, what had once occurred at the sanatorium is a disgrace but the sins of the past must not be poured on the present lot and scorned at as they have nothing to do with what conspired previously.

"However, as per the doctors, among all the medicines of the TB patients, a medicine or two might have side affects and even lead to psychiatric problems but in the pretext of consuming the medicines, it cannot be an excuse for anti-social activities," he said.

The Hill TMC convenor, Mr Rajen Mukhia, who recently visited the hospital, noted and revealed that the hospital is dealing with different problems but security is one of the biggest issues it faces. He has decided to place the problems of the SB Dey Sanatorium before the state health minister.

Notably, presently in an area of 33 acres and with 301 beds in total, only 17 male and 22 female tuberculosis patients are presently recuperating. At one time, the SB Dey Sanatorium was reportedly one of the best Tuberculosis treatment hospital in Asia overflowing with patients to get the cure from the then lethal disease from not only the country but from outside its borders as well.