For over two years, the world has been gripped in the throes of the COVID pandemic. In the first wave of COVID pandemic April 2021- December 2021, the hospital has treated around 950 patients, more than half were critical cases and most of them were successfully sent home. The employees of the hospital have shown tremendous courage and dedication to fight against the pandemic and thus the hospital has gained great appreciation from all corners of the society. The first wave weaned off in January 2021.
Again a huge surge in cases was noted from the March 2022 and the second of COVID pandemic lasted till August 2022. This second wave was worst hit to the society owing to the presence of delta variant of Corona Virus which caused severe lung damage. The total number of patients was high as well as critical cases rapidly outnumbered the first wave. In order to serve the mankind the hospital had to get prepared
The situation necessitated immediate upgrading of services with an increase in number of beds with adequate respiratory support devices. During the second wave, to cope up with the increasing pressure of critical patients and in response to the call from Govt. of West Bengal, we have upgraded to a 122 bedded COVID care facility of which were equipped with multi-parameter monitor and oxygen supply. We have upgraded our ICU to 60 beds , equipped with 30 full flagged modern ventilator machines, 60 BIPAP machines, 14 High Flow Nasal Canula (HFNC). We also had to run Satellite Centers outside the hospital campus to keep COVID patients.
During the second wave our total bed capacity increased to 148. The breakup is given below.
- Suspect Facility (SARI Ward) – 16 beds (Previous HDU)
- COVID CCU- 14 beds. ( previous CCU)
- COVID ITU – 13 beds ( previous ITU)
- COVID ICU – 13 beds (a new ward created at second floor)
- COVID Ward – 9 beds (Monitored Ward – Previous Annex Ward)
- COVID Ward – 14 beds (Monitored Ward – Previous Oncology Ward)
- COVID ward – 20 beds (Monitored Ward previous male, female general ward and dialysis unit)
- COVID ward 2 – 23 beds (Monitored Ward new ward at 3rd floor)
- A satellite center for our patients at Hotel the Sojourn – 20 beds
- 2 satellite centers at Rajarhat for our employees and their families.
Incidentally, since the second wave we have treated more than 950 COVID patients, more than half of which were very critical. Our treatment protocol and salvage rate have been appreciated in all quarters including the Dept. of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of West Bengal which sent a number of inspection teams to our hospital. More than 200 employees including a large section of female employees of all categories left their families and stayed months together near the hospital in the 26 hostels arranged for their accommodation. The hospital arranged for daily bus and car services to pick up more than hundred employees including doctors in the surrounding areas of Kolkata. A remarkable feature of our COVID treatment which has astonished everybody outside is the constant presence of the doctors, nurses and healthcare workers in the suspect facility and COVID positive Wards, giving constant association to the patients, boosting the patients’ psychology and providing direct care. This is the main reason of our high success rate in treatment. Their relatives were very much relieved on entrusting their patients under our care and they expressed their faith on us repeatedly.
The doctors led by Dr Subhankar Chatterjee, MRCP (UK) as the COVID Nodal Officer on the one hand exchanged views with Govt. of West Bengal and ICMR and on the other hand with reputed consultants throughout the country as a result of which many critical patients were saved. I take this opportunity to also mention the splendid services of Dr. Biplab Chandra and Dr. Nilratan Naiya who assisted Dr. Subhankar Chatterjee day and night. Sister Sagarika Sardar as the Infection Control Nurse, played a magnificent role. A batch of dedicated doctors has shown a great sense of responsibility and delivered exemplary service during the crisis. Dr. Supratim Nandy, Dr. Chandan Sheet, Dr Anupam Bhattacharya , Dr Kabiul Hoque , Dr Anubrata Das, Dr Adway Ghosh and Dr Amit Dhabal though young in age discharged their responsibilities with great courage, determination and competence, as well as their assistance in updating medical knowledge is praiseworthy.
During the second wave, we had to face unprecedented crisis of life saving medicines and oxygen supply but our workers fought with great courage and dedication. The deadly attack of delta variant of corona virus In-spite of our all out effort we could not save all our patients from the deadly attack of delta variety of corona virus. Our team continued their battle in the wards and ICUs despite the depressive situation and let no stone unturned to save a life.
All the departments not related to direct service like Reception, Office, Floor, Maintenance, Kitchen, Ambulance, Store and others including the newly formed department of Autoclaving & Fumigation (CSD), worked tirelessly day and night providing adequate support. The Screening Department headed by the dental Surgeons did very valuable work at the front gate.
During this crisis, in spite of scarcity of funds, we managed to provide Personal Protective Equipments (PPE) to all the employees.
During the second and third wave a good number of employees of all categories and departments have fallen sick and we decided to provide free treatment to all employees suffering from COVID and even in this financial crisis we have spent more than Rs. 50 lacs for this purpose and we feel happy that we could save all of them.
All in all, we had successfully combated the crisis generated by the pandemic and moreover we have emerged from the crisis with more strength and unity than before. The employees have become a close knit family led by their representative Calcutta Heart Clinic & Hospital Employees Union. The Union led by its President Sri Soumitra Sengupta and Secretary Dr. Biplab Chandra, MRCP (UK) has become an active force looking after the well being of the workers as well as motivating the workers during the pandemic.
We must bring to the appraisal that our hospital was selected by the Govt. of West Bengal as a COVID Vaccination Centre and till date we have successfully vaccinated more than 5000 beneficiaries without any major complications. We have also organized a Workplace Vaccination centre at Popular Nursing Home, Mecheda and regularly vaccinate people at that place.
The third wave of COVID pandemic by the Omicron variant of corona virus hit the country in January 2022 and progressed with unprecedented rapidity. We had to open all the COVID wards as in the second wave. This time we have noticed most of the cases were less severe in nature and hardly required respiratory support.
