B. R. Singh Hospital – From a small health unit to a Multispeciality Organisation.

When the railway system started flourishing in Bengal, a need for treating the employees became inevitable. Baba Ramrick Singh – the first Indian Railway Agent, who was the acting General Manager of East Bengal Railway envisioned the need for a healthcare centre for its employees. Accordingly, initiated the commissioning of the B.R. Singh Hospital in 1934, with only 36 beds.

The success of the vision & mission of Baba Ramrick Singh had encouraged Railways to strive for a clinical excellence, with the setting up of more departments & diagnostic equipment’s, surgical theatres that has possibly became the guiding path that the centre has grown to be one of the best-equipped railway hospitals in the country, with the current strength of 461 beds specialising in all the treatment verticals excepting orthopaedics which is dealt by the railway’s Howrah Orthopaedics Hospital.

Treatment of many neurological disorders with regards to the Botox injection is one of its kind in the entire nation. 10 bedded surgical intensive care unit with all modern life support system; 12 bedded ITU with all modern lifesaving support is also pride to this institution; ICCU 7 beds and Semi ICCU 25 beds take care of cardiological emergencies under able cardiologists of this hospital backed by the 24 hours operational in-house Blood Bank Service. Very few hospitals in the city have this facility which is an asset to the hospital.

This hospital has strategic arrangements with other corporate hospitals, diagnostic centre and Government hospitals, for rendering medical services those which are unavailable in this institution.

Pertinacious Feats:

1. On July 03^rd. 2024 – In a significant milestone for medical innovation, the expert team of the Cardiology Department at B.R. Singh Hospital proudly accomplished first in-house calcium modification through intravascular lithotripsy followed by stenting [a low contrast angioplasty (PCI)] on a frail elderly woman aged about 80 years, weighing 39 kgs, and was suffering from Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).  

This is only the second time such a procedure has been conducted in the history of Indian Railways, marking a significant milestone in addressing the challenges of heavily calcified coronary arteries in very high-risk patients, a condition often deemed impossible to treat through conventional methods.

• Mitigating the tyranny of the mutated genes –

• On the 09^th. of November, 2024, National Cancer Awareness Day was celebrated in the presence of Dr Subhankar Home, CS – I of B. R. Singh Hospital, Dr Kalpana Mondal, CMS of Sealdah & Senior IRHS doctors. The programme was conducted by the H & FW department of Sealdah.

While speaking on the occasion Dr Mandira Banerjee, ACMS/H & FW/Sealdah, emphasised that cancer diagnosis is not the end of the road, but the beginning of a battle. She also mentioned about respectful palliative hospice care for terminal patients.

CMS/Sealdah Dr Kalpana Mondal, highlighted the importance of screening tests & early warning signs and symptoms of common cancers like Ca Breast, Ca Colon, Ca Cervix etc. Dr Debasish Bandyopadhyay/ACHD/IC/Paediatrics discussed about the childhood cancers, their treatment, prognosis & early signs to detect. Dr Dipanjan Pradhan, Sr DMO/Surgery & IC/Oncology, emphasized on the screening & diagnosis and spread a message to remove the stigma of Cancer. He specifically pointed out that a biopsy doesn’t mean cancer, it’s a tissue diagnosis for confirming different clinical entity.

• On the 04^th. of February, 2025 World Cancer Day was observed in B. R. Singh Hospital, Sealdah under the aegis of Health & Family Welfare Department, Sealdah, attended by  

Dr. Kalpana Mondal, Chief Medical Superintendent/Sealdah, in presence of Dr. Subhasish Das, MD/B. R. Singh Hospital, Dr. Subhankar Home, CS-I/B. R. Singh Hospital, IRHS doctors, Asst Dietary Officer & nursing officers.

Dr. Mandira Banerjee/Additional Chief Medical Superintendent/Sealdah elaborated the theme of the day ” United by unique” & emphasised on the collective action to ensure compassionate care. Dr. Joydeep Ghosh, Divisional Medical Officer/Med/B. R. Singh Hospital, discussed about the presentation, danger signs, importance of early diagnosis & management, long term care plan of cancer patients, while Dr. Sourav Karmakar, Senior Divisional Medical Officer/Surgery, discussed about the early signs & important facts on urogenital malignancy.

Dr. Beauty Sarkar, ACHD/IC/ Gynaecology & obstetrics, briefed the audience on breast cancer, cervical cancer & ovarian cancer, their early signs &preventive measures.

Dr. Suman Meyur, CMP/Radiation oncology, described the treatment modalities, supportive care, family centric care etc. Dr. Chaitali Patra/Sr. Divisional Medical Officer/Paediatrics/B. R. Singh Hospital, highlighted salient facts on paediatric malignancy.

• On 16^th. December, 2024 – B.R. Singh Hospital’s Advanced Cardiac Centre has successfully performed two complex cardiac procedures, showcasing its expertise in delivering advanced heart care. These achievements were made possible under the leadership of Dr. Ajay Goutam, Senior Divisional Medical Officer /In charge/ Cardiology department of B.R Singh Hospital, and Dr. Ashok Saha, Anaesthesia Specialist, along with Dr. Adrish Banik/DMO/Anaesthesia and their dedicated cardiology and anaesthesia teams.

• In the first case, a 14-year-old male patient with a congenital heart condition involving a connection between the Aorta and Pulmonary Artery underwent a successful PDA (Patent Ductus Arteriosus) device closure. A 14/16 mm PDA device was used, and the procedure was completed smoothly. The patient has made a good recovery and is being discharged in stable condition.

• In the second case, a 25-year-old female patient with a large and complex Atrial Septal Defect (ASD), measuring 38-39 mm, was treated with precision. A 42 mm ASD device was used to close the defect successfully. Despite the challenges posed by the size of the defect, the patient responded well to the intervention and is now stable and ready for discharge.

These successful procedures are a testament to the exceptional skills, dedication, and teamwork of the Cardiology and Anaesthesia Departments at B.R. Singh Hospital. The Advanced Cardiac Centre remains steadfast in its commitment to providing cutting-edge treatment for complex heart conditions, setting new benchmarks in cardiac care, and improving patient outcomes.

• On the 01^st. of January, 2025 – In a historic achievement, the Cardiology Department of B.R. Singh Hospital successfully performed its first-ever TEVAR (Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair) procedure marking a significant milestone in the hospital’s journey toward excellence in cardiac care.

The procedure was performed on a 62-year-old male patient who had been experiencing severe abdominal discomfort and uneasiness for the past six months. Following a detailed evaluation, including a CT Aortogram conducted at B.R. Singh Hospital, the patient was diagnosed with a Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm—a potentially life-threatening condition.

A multidisciplinary team of specialists collaborated to ensure the success of this complex procedure like Dr. Asit Das (Consultant Cardiologist), Dr. Ajay Gautam (Sr. DMO/IC/Cardiology), Dr. Ashok Saha (ACHD/IC/Anaesthesia), Dr. Nilendu Chakraborty (ACHD/Anaesthesia), Dr. Paria (Sr. DMO/Radiology) and team.

The procedure was successfully performed, and the patient is stable. This milestone highlights the advanced capabilities of B.R. Singh Hospital’s Advanced Cardiac Centre, reinforcing its commitment to delivering cutting-edge medical care and saving lives through innovative interventions.

• On 05^th. January, 2025 – while preparing for the upcoming Maha Kumbh Mela, Eastern Railway had taken a proactive step to ensure the safety and well-being of pilgrims by equipping its non-medical staff with essential life-saving skills. A series of intensive CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) and First Aid training sessions were conducted at B.R. Singh Hospital (BRSH), Sealdah, under the leadership of Dr. Adrish Banik (DMO, Anaesthesia) and the guidance of Dr. Ashok Saha (ACHD/IC, Anaesthesia).

This training initiative, organised on an emergency basis, was designed to empower frontline railway staff to respond promptly and effectively to medical emergencies during the high- volume gathering at the Kumbh Mela. Multiple batches of staff were trained to ensure wide coverage, with a focus on practical, hands-on learning of critical techniques such as CPR, bleeding control, and other first aid measures.

Key highlights of the training were:

• CPR Techniques: Training staff to provide immediate care during cardiac emergencies.
• First Aid Procedures: Equipping participants to handle injuries, burns, and fractures effectively.
• Emergency response protocols: To ensure efficient coordination during crises.

This initiative demonstrates Eastern Railway’s commitment to passenger safety and preparedness during one of the world’s largest gatherings. By equipping non-medical staff with vital medical skills, the Railway had ensured a safe and secure environment for the millions of pilgrims.

Finally, the historic transformation of this Medical Organisation has ushered a hope among many that, with the modern methodologies in practice, this Multispeciality Hospital can probably minimise the patient migration to other states in the quest for advance treatment.

Team Maverick