One of Singapore’s most iconic companies is our national airline, Singapore Airlines (SIA). Their sarong-kebaya-clad air stewardesses never fail to greet you with a smile, making you feel at home when you board their planes.
They’re not known as one of the world’s best airlines for nothing, and during this time of crisis for the aviation sector, they’re showing, yet again, that they’re truly a jewel – pun intended – Singaporeans should be proud of.
Starting Tuesday (7 Apr), 30 SIA’s cabin crew members will begin their 5-day training programme at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH) as preparation for their 3-month stint at the hospital.
Like 96% of SIA’s fleet, most of their cabin crew have been grounded too.
Instead of staying at home during this ‘Circuit Breaker’ period, SIA Group has collaborated with KTPH to launch their ‘Care Ambassadors’ programme, putting the cabin crew’s service skills to good use.
This allows cabin crew to work at public hospitals while the flight demands are still low, so they can share the workload with the hospital staff.
SIA’s cabin crew members who join the Care Ambassadors programme will be trained to care for patients in low-risk wards and will also help with patient service management as well.
The first batch of 30 Care Ambassadors are currently undergoing their training programme at KTPH.
They were taken around the hospital on an orientation programme yesterday (7 Apr) and had their vaccinations and health screening done.
The Care Ambassadors were even given a meal-serving demonstration as well.
During their training, they will learn basic medical terms, how to monitor patients’ vitals, feed them, as well as positioning and turning them in bed. They will also be taught how to help patients move around.
The Care Ambassadors will be trained in safety and infection control too and will be given protective equipment for their own safety.
KTPH is the first public hospital to engage in SIA Group’s Care Ambassador’s programme.
KTPH’s Chief Nurse, Ms Shirley Heng, expressed great support for the programme in the press release.
Now that many of the hospital’s staff are busy with caring for Covid-19 patients, the incoming Care Ambassadors would help ease their workload so they can care for all patients more effectively.
Ms Heng also said that the Care Ambassadors will share their customer service experience with the hospital’s nurses so more patients can benefit from quality care and service.
This programme just goes to show the good that can come out of a less-than-ideal situation. It benefits both the cabin crew, as well as the hospitals hosting them.
We hope to see it being run at more hospitals soon and applaud the cabin crew who’ve stepped up to serve others during this dire time.
Featured image courtesy of Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.
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