SINGAPORE: A group of nurses and an off-duty doctor from Gleneagles Hospital helped rescue a motorcyclist who was injured in a road traffic accident on Friday morning (Feb 23).

Channel NewsAsia understands that the motorcyclist, a 38-year-old man, was travelling behind a car, when the car suddenly stopped.

Unable to stop in time, the motorcyclist crashed into the car and was thrown from his motorbike, which ended up in front of an SBS Transit bus.

Channel NewsAsia understands that the hospital’s accident and emergency department staff was alerted to the accident at about 8.20am, and immediately dispatched two nurses to the scene. A nurse manager and an off-duty doctor subsequently joined them.

The four assessed and stabilised the motorcyclist’s condition, before moving him to the side of the road.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force – which was alerted to the incident at Napier Road at about 8.30am – then took over and took the man to Tan Tock Seng Hospital. The man was conscious when taken to the hospital.

Gleneagles Hospital praised the “quick thinking and selflessness” of the four staff members who went to the aid of the motorcyclist.

“Our patients’ well-being has always been our primary concern at Gleneagles Hospital,” said Ms Grace Chung, Chief Operating Officer, Gleneagles Hospital. “We are extremely proud of our staff who put that belief into action this morning.” 

“Their quick thinking and selflessness in attending to the casualty beyond their official area of work truly reflects the level of care we deliver at the hospital.”

Photos of the incident show an overturned motorbike lying in front of an SBS Transit bus, with debris and what appears to be oil surrounding it. 

A man with a helmet can be seen lying a short distance from the motorbike on his side, clutching his shoulder.

Mr Anthony Lim, head of international marketing for Parkway Hospitals Singapore, told Channel NewsAsia that he was driving to the hospital for a meeting when he came across the scene.

“Upon reaching the hospital there was a huge traffic jam,” the 48-year-old said, adding that he saw a man lying on the road with a motorbike next to him, in front of an SBS Transit bus.

“He was on the road in the centre of the road … a car (was) next to him and a bus (was) next to him,” he said. “The whole thing (scene) was occupying about three lanes.”

Mr Lim said he alerted Gleneagles Hospital staff and also helped staff members assist the rider.

“We carried him to the side of the kerb. I helped them (staff) carry the patient to the side while waiting for the ambulance to come.”

The police said they were alerted to accident at about 8.30am and that investigations are ongoing.

SINGAPORE: Aspiring hawkers can now get a taste of the hawker trade before setting up their own stalls, with an “incubation stall” programme launched by the National Environment Agency (NEA) on Friday (Feb 23).

Pre-fitted with basic equipment such as a freezers and sinks, the incubation stalls serve to reduce the capital investment required to start a hawker stall.

Successful applicants will be offered the stalls at 50 per cent of the assessed market rent for a six-month period. 

Currently, the six-month tenure is non-renewable, which means that hawkers will have to go through the normal procedure of submitting a tender, if they want to set up a permanent stall.

In response to queries about whether the hawkers can continue operating in the stall after the six-month period, NEA says it will consider this on a case-by-case basis.

In order to apply for an incubation stall, applicants must have no prior experience in managing or operating a food stall or food shop. 

They are also required to have attended either an introductory course on managing a hawker business run by the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) or other similar Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) courses, or be a graduate of business management courses offered in tertiary institutions.

The incubation stall programme is in line with the Hawker Centre 3.0 Committee’s recommendations to sustain the trade and support aspiring hawkers into the industry.

Currently, only three out of 13 incubation stalls in various hawker centres have been taken up, according to NEA.

Speaking at the launch, Senior Minister of State for the Environment and Water Resources, Dr Amy Khor said the programme provides another avenue for aspiring hawkers to join the trade.

“Hawkers are an integral part of Singapore’s food and beverage landscape and we must find various means to sustain the trade,” said Dr Khor.

Meanwhile, participants say that having an opportunity to learn about the trade and experience being a hawker has helped them to plan for their future.

Ms Tan Pey See, who sells muffins at an incubation stall at ABC Brickwork, is already looking to set up a stall after her six-month stint ends.

“Baking has always been my interest,” said Ms Tan.

“I received advice and tips from the organisers on starting my business, such as the presentation of my products and attracting customers, which have been helpful to me,” she added. 

Another participant Ms Ng Qin Rong, who sells vegetarian rice bowls, said she hoped to show people how healthy eating can be affordable. 

“The incubation stall Programme allows me to bring the concept to a hawker centre, while acquiring real knowledge and experience of running a food stall before I decide to run my own,” said Ms Ng. 

SINGAPORE: A man was sent to hospital after his car overturned at 1 Stars Avenue on Friday (Feb 23). 

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was alerted to the accident at 7.30am.

Eyewitnesses saw what appeared to be a dark-coloured Citroen hatchback resting on its bonnet on the road across the Mediacorp Campus at about 8am. 

SCDF officers were also spotted at the scene. 

The driver, who Channel NewsAsia understands is a 50-year-old man, was sent to the National University Hospital.