Officials at private hospitals in Calcutta expressed the fear that patient services could be affected on Monday and Tuesday because of a partial cease-work announced by doctors.

An association of senior doctors has called a token partial cease-work — withdrawal from non-emergency services — across government and private hospitals from 6am on Monday till 6am on Wednesday, demanding that the state government accede to the demands of junior doctors.

Hospital officials said appointments for consultation at outpatient departments, planned surgeries and other procedures and follow-up to surgeries conducted before the Puja are likely to be hit.

Speaking to The Telegraph on Sunday, the officials said they would keep the outdoor clinics open and it was up to the doctors whether they would turn up or not.

While announcing the decision of the partial cease-work on Saturday, a senior doctor had said all emergency services would be provided.

Patients requiring dialysis or those visiting hospitals with a cardiac problem will not be turned away.

“A doctor will examine a patient and decide whether it is an emergency case or not,” the senior doctor had said.

An official at a private hospital who spoke on condition of anonymity said double the usual number of doctors, nurses and non-clinical staff would be in the emergency department on Monday and Tuesday to ensure no patient left untreated.

“Specialists, too, will be available in the emergency,” said the official.

The OPD clinics were closed on all four days of Durga Puja.

Many people had booked appointments for outpatient consultation weeks or months ago, said an official.

“People who had their surgeries just before the Puja might come to get their stitches removed. Some of them are scheduled to come on Monday and Tuesday for follow-up. It is up to the doctors who performed the surgeries to decide whether they will examine the patients or not,” the official said.

Sudipta Mitra, chief executive of Peerless Hospital, said they will keep the OPD clinics open on the two days.

“We will not stop any doctor from examining patients, not will we force a doctor to examine patients. Our emergency will be fully equipped to handle any case,” said Mitra.

A surgeon at a private hospital off EM Bypass said he and some of his colleagues have decided that they will examine any patient who arrives in the hospital, but will not take any fee.

“Everyone may not be aware of our cease-work. I cannot ask someone who has travelled for hours to go back and return another day. But we will not take any fee from patients to show support for the cease-work,” the surgeon said.