A defunct washing machine at VSS Medical College and Hospital in Burla. Telegraph picture

Sambalpur, June 5: Patients at VSS Medical College and Hospital in Burla are an aggrieved lot as the firm entrusted with laundry service has failed to supply washed linen to the hospital.

“The bedsheets and pillow covers of the patients are supposed to be changed regularly. Unclean bed linen could lead to infection,” said Chetan Goyal, a resident of Burla and an attendant to a patient at the hospital.

“The gowns and the masks, which are used by the medical staff, should also be washed regularly. But for the last few days, the laundry service has completely failed at the medical college and hospital. Public money is being spent on the service. The hospital authorities should take remedial measures,” he said.

“For the last seven to eight days, the firm that has been entrusted with providing laundry service has not been supplying washed linen to the hospital,” said Brajamohan Mishra, a doctor at the hospital.

“I had called the staff of the firm and asked them to resume the service as soon as possible. They have assured me that they would resume the service within two days,” said Mishra. Superintendent of the medical college and hospital L.K. Das said: “The laundry service was disrupted because of a technical problem. However, I will look into the problem.”

“The drier and the washing machine were out of order. However, machines are being repaired today. The laundry service will resume tomorrow,” said hospital manager B. Mahanta.