Stopped: Depositing Mobile Phones For Stretchers, Wheelchairs At SCB In Odisha’s Cuttack

Cuttack: The SCB Medical College and Hospital in Odisha’s Cuttack has discontinued the practice that required kin of patients to deposit mobile phones to avail stretchers and wheelchairs.

From Friday, kin of patients will only need to submit identity proof to avail stretchers or wheelchairs from the Sahay kiosk, Sahay in-charge Anubha Panda told a news portal.

According to Panda, the old practice was started as kin of patients often leave stretchers or wheelchairs at far-off places or do not return them. Sometimes, attendants take away stretchers or wheelchairs if the patient is referred to another hospital or medical facility.

“However, we have decided to discontinue the practice. From Friday, attendants of patients can furnish identity proof like Aadhaar, driving licence or voter I-card to avail stretchers and wheelchairs,” she told the news portal.

Leaving mobile phones with hospital staff was causing a lot of inconvenience to patients as they were unable to contact or speak to anyone, including the patient’s family members.