Missing patient takes hospital, police for a ride

KOLKATA: A cat and mouse game was witnessed the state run Shambhunath Pandit Hospital Monday — with neither the police nor the hospital authorities being able to trace a ''missing patient'' for almost 36 hours.
Hospital authorities finally heaved a sigh of relief when 70-year-old Chintamani Ghosh finally reappeared and reached home on his own. But they remained disgruntled with allegations levelled them for negligence and letting the patient escape from the hospital on Sunday evening.Ghosh escaped from the hospital after he was served his dinner on Sunday.
"The patient tried to escape earlier as well. His family members were told that his mental condition was not stable and were asked to stay in the hospital," said hospital superintendent Sukumar Das.
"We tried to trace him after he was found missing. But we failed and contacted the police," added. A general diary was lodged at the Bhawanipur police station by the hospital authority.
On Monday morning, some of his family members alleged that the hospital had not informed them about the incident and had failed to execute its responsibility.
"We were shocked to hear the incident this morning. Even the police did not contact us," alleged grand-daughter of Chintamani, Soma Ghosh.
Later in the afternoon, Chintamami reached home in a taxi.
He told the police that he had walked till Minto Park and hailed a taxi. It is still a mystery where he spent the night.
A section of hospital staff smelt a rat in the incident. "Similar cases have happened here where family members have deserted patients. We still have couple of permanent inmates in the hospital. Otherwise, why would a resident of Baranagar be admitted here despite there being three medical college hospitals on the way. It is a distance of 20 km," alleged a hospital staff.
Chintamani was admitted in a ‘free bed'' but his financial status did not merit it, alleged nurses and attending doctors.
The patient was admitted to the hospital on May 7 after he complained of respiratory distress.