Sunday, May 10, 2020

Need to improve SGH shuttle vehicle access for patients on wheelchairs

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA







Recently, a private inspection on the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) shuttle vehicle access on behalf of patients on wheelchairs shows that there is room for service improvement.

Currently, patients on wheelchairs who live in the western, eastern and northeastern parts of Singapore have easy access to the SGH wheelchair transport shuttle service at Outram MRT Station within 30 to 45 minutes of an MRT ride. However, those patients on wheelchairs who live in northern and central parts of Singapore such as Ang Mo Kio, Serangoon, Woodlands take at least one hour or more to reach the bus stop outside Outram MRT Station to wait for the "Wheelchair Shuttle Bus" service to SGH.

To avoid missing appointments in the early mornings at SGH for these patients, it is better for the SGH management to consider providing an alternative route of the wheelchair transport shuttle service for the patients from northern and central Singapore. For example, establish a complimentary route service from Tanjung Pagar MRT Station to SGH.

Tanjung Pagar MRT Station has the direct lift access to the street. It will be more convenient for patients from northern and central Singapore on wheelchairs who currently have to transfer to the other platform of Raffles Place MRT Station for the two-stop access to the Outram MRT Station lift. If this is possible, non-stop frequent shuttles from Tanjung Pagar to SGH are recommended.





Another option is designating another bus stop along Eu Tong Sen Street for an alternative wheelchair transport shuttle service to SGH or designate a transfer stop outside Dorsett Hotel, which has direct lift access to Outram MRT Station. The bus stop that leads to Jalan Bukit Merah does not have the "Wheelchair Shuttle Bus" sign. That bus stop's lift leads passersby to the road opposite, not towards the current bus stop for the "Wheelchair Shuttle Bus" service outside Outram MRT Station.



Currently, patients on wheelchairs without extending their leg out reach SGH from Ang Mo Kio, Yishun by public bus 851 but if they have to extend their leg due to injuries from falls, they have to pay higher costs for travel by private vans to SGH. 



Silverfleet private van service charges a one-way promotion rate of 45 Singapore Dollars, 90 Singapore Dollars for a round-trip for first-time users. A private ambulance service normally charges 70 Singapore Dollars for a one-way service whereas a normal ambulance service costs 80 Singapore Dollars one-way.

Singaporeans should think of more ways for one another to reduce costs of living in the Lion City.

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