The Siliguri district hospital has come up with some new facilities and has also increased the manpower to provide better services to patients who turn up from across the city and its surroundings.

After North Bengal Medical College & Hospital (NBMCH), it is the second largest state-run healthcare centre in Darjeeling district.

Recently, a machine for laparoscopy surgery has been installed at the hospital, along with a new elevator.

“Patients requiring laparoscopy can now get it done at the hospital. Also, the new lift in the emergency will help in the smooth movement of patients. Work to install another lift has started at the mother and child care hub and it will be operational by December this year,” said a source.

Gautam Deb, the mayor of Siliguri and chairman of the hospital’s patient welfare committee, who has inaugurated these facilities, said they are planning to build an additional staircase at the hospital.

“We have to find a suitable space for the staircase as there is a scarcity of additional space on the premises. But it is necessary as per the fire safety rules of the state,” he said.

The hospital authorities, he said, have also sent an application to the state health department for some more infrastructural development and internal renovation work with detailed estimates and plans.

“The plan for beautification of the emergency area has been done and it will be carried out soon,” said the mayor.

Along with infrastructural development, manpower has also been augmented at the hospital to provide better care to patients.

“We have got 12 postgraduate trainees from NBMCH and 14 appointed house staff at the hospital. Their availability will reduce the workload of doctors and more patients can be handled, both in the wards and in outpatient departments,” said an official.

Among other changes, include the hospital’s decision to provide gowns to patients in every ward.

“Every ward has a specific dress for patients for easy identification. Also, 24 personnel from the civil defence are working as volunteers to serve patients and around 18 daily-rated workers have also been engaged for the cleaning work,” the source added.

As of now, telemedicine services are available for the neurology and cardiac departments at the hospital. “We have plans to extend this service to some other departments,” said a source.