Elderly, disabled commuters get helping hand at Outram MRT

SINGAPORE — Elderly, frail and disabled commuters can now seek help more easily, thanks to two trials launched at Outram Park MRT Station yesterday.

Under the first, two meeting points — designated “Heart Zones” — have been set up at the East-West (EWL) and North-East Line (NEL) exits.

Commuters wanting help getting to Singapore General Hospital (SGH) can head to red mesh benches there and wait for hospital staff or willing members of the public — who will be encouraged to look out for people needing assistance. The scheme operates during morning rush hour — 7.30am to 9.30pm — on weekdays.

A collaborative effort between the Public Transport Council (PTC), SBS Transit, SMRT and SGH, the initiative aims to provide a platform for commuters to assist people in need.

PTC chairman Richard Magnus said: “From the feedback that we’ve received and from the (thousands of) conversations we’ve had with commuters, we learnt that commuters wish to help one another.”

Outram Park MRT was chosen because many commuters said they face difficulties locating the boarding points of the shuttle bus services to SGH, or lose their way while heading to the medical centres.

“With this trial established, people who are lost at least have a designated point to get to, so it is clearer,” said SGH senior staff nurse Wang Shu Juan.

Even without the trial, the 34-year-old added that SGH staff have frequently assisted patients who get lost, “especially in the mornings”.

Under the second trial — dubbed “Heartwheels” — four wheelchairs have been provided to help people getting between the EWL and NEL exits.

Two have been placed next to the lifts at each end of the 210m pedestrian linkway.

The wheelchairs, costing about $300 each, have been provided by the two rail operators and are free for public use throughout the day.

Both trials will last until Sept 15 and, if successful, they could be launched at other MRT stations such as Novena, which is near Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

Feedback will be gathered through interviews with commuters as well as via social media, using the hashtag #JourneywithmeSG.

Mr Francis Tay, 57, who received help at the Heart Zones yesterday, said the facility is “very helpful” to blind patients like himself as it helps him to navigate the corridors, lifts and overhead bridges.

The IT administrator added: “If somebody can help us to walk to the shuttle bus service waiting point, it’s going to be very good.”