Chief minister Mamata Banerjee virtually inaugurated a level II trauma care facility in North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH) on Monday.

Mamata, who inaugurated the facility from state secretariat Nabanna, said it would help accident patients from across north Bengal.

State tourism minister Gautam Deb, senior officials and faculty members of the hospital were present at NBMCH during the inauguration.

The new unit, built at a cost of Rs 10 crore, has 20 beds, two operation theatres, two operating tables and a recovery room with 10 beds. Specialist doctors will man the unit that will also have orthopaedic and neurosurgery departments.

“Earlier, we had built a level I trauma care unit in Calcutta where around Rs 100 crore was spent. This new unit also has all the facilities. Accident patients would no longer have to come to Calcutta for treatment,” Mamata added.

Covid advisory

The state health department has come up with guidelines for those who recovered from Covid-19. “They must be examined on the 14th and 28th day after discharge and once a month for next one year for complications,” said an official of the Darjeeling district health department. At NBMCH, a designated facility would be ready for such patients.

Post-Covid complications can include breathing problems, chest pain, headaches, neurocognitive problems, muscle pain and weakness, gastrointestinal upsets, rashes, metabolic disruption, thromboembolic conditions and depression.