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Straits Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Straits Times
Care model to improve trauma outcome in central S'pore fashioned after ‘bicycle wheel'
During trauma surgery, making life and death decisions are crucial as things often happen badly in trauma care and time is always running out. SINGAPORE - A trauma care model fashioned after the wheel of a bicycle has been launched in the central region of Singapore to improve the outcomes of those who have sustained physical, life-threatening injuries. The hub-and-spoke concept increases the chances of these critically injured patients receiving optimal care at the most appropriate hospital, ultimately leading to faster response times and reduced death rates. Tan Tock Seng Hospital's (TTSH) Trauma Centre serves as the hub, specialising in the most complex and critical trauma cases, while the other hospitals in central Singapore are the spokes, managing moderate to less severe ones. The 'spoke hospitals' comprise Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH), Woodlands Health (WH), Sengkang General Hospital (SKH), Raffles Hospital and KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH), which are from different healthcare clusters. The model also helps to 'maximise resources... since four of the eight specialist trauma surgeons in Singapore are located at TTSH', Dr Teo Li Tserng, director of the TTSH Trauma Centre, told reporters at an interview on July 16 . The rest of the specialist trauma surgeons are based at three other hospitals. Dr Teo said patients requiring care based on a set of tailored secondary transfer criteria are sent to the hub. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. 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The care model was shared at the Singapore Trauma and Acute Care Conference (STACC) 2025, held at Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre from July 17 to 18. Trauma is a form of injury caused by an external force . Many such patients suffer multiple injuries or damage in multiple regions, whether from traffic accidents, bad falls or penetrating wounds. It ranks among the top 10 causes of death in Singapore, with falls and road accidents being leading causes of moderate to severe trauma injuries. According to the National Trauma Registry (NTR), there were about eight trauma cases per 100,000 population treated at the public healthcare institutions daily between 2021 and 2023, with almost seven in 10 of the moderate to severe cases involving the elderly aged 65 and above. About one in five patients with severe trauma did not survive and one in 50 with moderate trauma died . Although the hub-and-spoke trauma care model is not a new idea , the one here has a 'bi-directional patient flow', setting it apart from existing ones elsewhere. 'Unlike most uni-directional systems where the hub takes every trauma case first, our model allows for a critically injured victim of, say, of a bad road accident, to be brought the nearest (periphery) hospital to be stabilised before transferring him to TTSH for the complex, life-threatening emergency treatment,' said Dr Teo, who is also the regional director of the Central Region Trauma Services from NHG Health. 'Once emergency treatment is complete and the patient is stabilised, he can be transferred back to the 'spoke' hospital for follow-up rehabilitation, or even to a hospital closer to their residence for ongoing care,' he added. If the patient is not stable enough for transfer , surgeons from the hub can go to the periphery hospitals instead. The bi-directional operation significantly reduces the burden on the main trauma centre at TTSH, making more efficient use of resources and 'reflecting a right-sited, patient-centred approach,' Dr Teo said. Using the analogy of a jar of kaya and several pieces of sliced bread, Dr Teo said: 'The kaya in this case is finite, so how do we adequately spread it around to the increasing slices of bread or even concentrate the kaya to make sure that at least everybody gets enough for taste? That's the challenge. We have to ensure that the patients get adequate care to allow them the chance for survival.' In order for the hub-and-spoke model to work, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) plays a crucial role as its first responders decide where to transport patients based on the type and severity of their injuries, Dr Teo said. 'Even with Singapore's small size and short transport times, that extra five minutes taking the critically injured patient to the hub is crucial for him to fare better,' he said. The hub-and-spoke model is still being developed, as some hospitals in the central region are 'at various stages of their maturity', said Dr Teo, who pointed out that Sengkang Hospital and Woodlands Health are the two newest hospitals. In comparison, the TTSH trauma centre has been working with Sengkang Hospital since 2016. 'We are trying to fully roll this (model) out by September this year, and hopefully it will then be the prototype for the rest of the healthcare groups to adopt,' Dr Teo, said.
Straits Times
06-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Vietnam's laid-off communist officials face uncertain future
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Feelings are mixed among newly unemployed apparatchiks – communist party officials whose jobs were once guaranteed. HANOI - Sipping green tea in his garden of roses, ex-communist party official Nguyen Van Cuong says he is 'jobless but happy' after Vietnam cut 80,000 state roles this week. But fretting at home after leaving public employment once considered a job-for-life, Ms Nguyen Thi Thu told AFP she feels 'empty' over a future that is no longer certain. Vietnam is in the midst of a dramatic remaking of its state apparatus, with 100,000 positions slated to be scrapped as Hanoi seeks to streamline bureaucracy and boost the economy. On June 30, 80,000 roles were slashed as most of the South-east Asian nation's provinces and cities were merged. Feelings are mixed among newly unemployed apparatchiks – communist party officials whose jobs were once guaranteed. 'It's really a waste for the state to lose one like myself,' said 56-year-old Cuong, who served in Bac Giang province outside Hanoi. Bac Giang was merged into a neighbouring province's administration. The government said those caught in the overhaul would either be made redundant or offered early retirement. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore First BTO project in Sembawang North to be offered in July launch Singapore TTSH to demolish century-old pavilion wards, keeping one as heritage marker Singapore Red Lions and naval divers join forces for Jump of Unity at NDP 2025 World 'Formed to give you back your freedom': Elon Musk says he has created a new US political party Singapore His world crashed when he got F9 in O-level Tamil but PropNex co-founder Ismail Gafoor beat the odds Asia HIV surge in the Philippines amid poor sex education, policy gaps Tech Graduates are not screwed if they study engineering: James Dyson in response to Economist article Business When a foreign wife failed to turn up for a $10m divorce Mr Cuong told AFP he could have remained in his post – or even been promoted – but chose to accept a US$75,000 (S$95,600) payoff for his remaining six years after a 30-year state career. 'It's time to rid myself of so much complexity in state politics,' he said. The mass reorganisation overseen by Vietnam's top leader To Lam echoes steps taken by US President Donald Trump and Argentine leader Javier Milei to take an axe to government spending towards 'efficiency'. 'Don't know what's next' Former district-level secretary Thu admits she may not have been able to manage the burdens of the job as management prioritised performance. The 50-year-old felt she had no option but to resign when her office was relocated to the Mekong delta province of An Giang, more than 70km from her home. 'I resigned, not because I wanted to quit my job,' Ms Thu said. 'It's better to resign rather than waiting for a dismissal order.' Vietnam – a global manufacturing hub – recorded economic growth of 7.1 per cent last year and is aiming for eight per cent this year as it vies for 'middle-income country' status by 2030. But the country is facing headwinds from key trade partner the United States. Mr Trump threatened a 46 per cent tariff before settling on a 20 percent rate in a deal announced on July 2 – a levy five times the rate before he took office the second time. Vietnam's deputy finance minister said the new administrative structure would bring 'strong scale to connect strong business and economic infrastructure' and create 'greater socio-economic development'. Mr Lam, the Communist Party general secretary, said on June 30 that 'the decision to reshape the nation is a historical landmark with strategic meaning' aiming 'to continue our path towards a socialist country... for people's happiness'. But for Ms Thu, the way forward is now unclear. 'I don't know what to do next,' she said. Scrolling carefree on his phone and chatting with friends online, Mr Cuong said he had few regrets over his voluntary redundancy. He feels like Vietnam may be the one missing out on what he has to offer. 'I could still contribute more to the state sector,' he said. AFP
Straits Times
06-07-2025
- Science
- Straits Times
As the world warms, extreme rain is becoming even more extreme
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Colossal bursts of rain like the ones that caused the deadly flooding in Texas are becoming more frequent and intense around the globe as the burning of fossil fuels heats the planet, scientists say. Warm air holds more moisture than cool air, and as temperatures rise, storms can produce bigger downpours. When met on the ground with outdated infrastructure or inadequate warning systems, the results can be catastrophic. These were the ingredients for tragedy in Texas, a state that is well acquainted with weather extremes of all kinds: high heat and deep cold, deluges and droughts, tornadoes and hurricanes, hail and snow. Indeed, the Hill Country, the part of the state where the Guadalupe River swelled on July 4, is sometimes called 'flash flood alley' for how at risk it is to seemingly out-of-nowhere surges of water. Humid air blows into the area from two main sources, the Gulf of Mexico and the tropical Pacific Ocean. When this air collides with cool air drifting down across the Great Plains, severe storms can erupt. The hilly terrain and steep canyons quickly funnel the rain into river valleys, transforming lazy streams into roaring cascades. In parts of Texas that were flooded on July 4, the quantities of rain that poured down in a six-hour stretch were so great that they had less than a tenth of 1 per cent chance of falling there in any given year, according to data analysed by Dr Russ Schumacher, a professor of atmospheric science at Colorado State University. The Guadalupe River rose from 3 feet to 34 feet in about 90 minutes, according to data from a river gauge near the town of Comfort, Texas. The volume of water exploded from 95 cubic feet per second to 166,000 cubic feet per second. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore First BTO project in Sembawang North to be offered in July launch Singapore TTSH to demolish century-old pavilion wards, keeping one as heritage marker World 'Formed to give you back your freedom': Elon Musk says he has created a new US political party Singapore Tank collides into traffic light during National Day Parade national education show Singapore His world crashed when he got F9 in O-level Tamil but PropNex co-founder Ismail Gafoor beat the odds Asia HIV surge in the Philippines amid poor sex education, policy gaps Tech Graduates are not screwed if they study engineering: James Dyson in response to Economist article Business When a foreign wife failed to turn up for a $10m divorce And the warming climate is creating the conditions in Texas for more of these sharp, deadly deluges. In the eastern part of the state, the number of days per year with at least 2 inches of rain or snow has increased by 20 per cent since 1900, according to the most recent National Climate Assessment, the federal government's flagship report on how global warming is affecting the United States. Across Texas, the intensity of extreme rain could increase another 10 per cent by 2036, according to a report last year by Dr John Nielsen-Gammon, the Texas state climatologist. To understand patterns of heavy rain at a more local level, communities and officials rely on data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The agency has for decades published nationwide estimates of the probabilities of various precipitation events – that is, a certain number of inches falling in a particular location over a given amount of time, from five minutes to 24 hours to 60 days. Engineers use NOAA's estimates to design storm drains and culverts. City planners use them to guide development and regulations in flood-prone areas. NOAA's next updates to the estimates are scheduled to be released from 2026. For the first time, they are expected to include projections of how extreme precipitation will evolve as the climate changes, in order to help officials plan further ahead. But in recent months, the Trump administration has cut staff at the agency and at the National Weather Service, which sits within NOAA. The administration has also dismissed the hundreds of experts who had been compiling the next edition of the National Climate Assessment, which was scheduled to come out in 2028. And it is proposing deep cuts to NOAA's 2026 budget, including eliminating the office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, which conducts and coordinates climate research. NYTIMES
Straits Times
06-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
‘Into a void': Young US college graduates face employment crisis
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox At 5.8 per cent, unemployment for young, recent graduates from US universities is higher than it has been since November 2013. WASHINGTON - Over two years, Ms Rebecca Atkins filed more than 250 job applications, and felt like every one was going into a gaping chasm – one opened by the highest unemployment rate for recent college graduates in the United States in more than a decade. 'It was extremely dispiriting,' said the 25-year-old, who graduated in 2022 with a degree in law and justice from a university in the US capital Washington. 'I was convinced that I was a terrible person, and terrible at working.' At 5.8 per cent, unemployment for young, recent graduates from US universities is higher than it has been since November 2013, excluding 15 months in the Covid-19 pandemic, according to official data. Moreover, it has also remained stubbornly higher than overall unemployment – an extremely unusual situation, analysts say. And while overall US unemployment has stabilised between around 3.5 and 4 per cent post-pandemic, unemployment for recent college graduates is only trending higher. The labour market for new grads has weakened consistently since 2022, with new hiring down 16 per cent in 2025, year-over-year, according to payroll firm Gusto. Analysts say the trend is likely a result of cyclical post-pandemic hiring slowdowns – particularly in new-grad-heavy sectors like technology, finance, and business information – and overall economic uncertainty in the tumultuous early days of the Trump administration. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore First BTO project in Sembawang North to be offered in July launch Singapore TTSH to demolish century-old pavilion wards, keeping one as heritage marker World 'Formed to give you back your freedom': Elon Musk says he has created a new US political party Singapore Tank collides into traffic light during NDP preview show Singapore His world crashed when he got F9 in O-level Tamil but PropNex co-founder Ismail Gafoor beat the odds Asia HIV surge in the Philippines amid poor sex education, policy gaps Tech Graduates are not screwed if they study engineering: James Dyson in response to Economist article Business When a foreign wife failed to turn up for a $10m divorce That is scant consolation to the droves of young people – often saddled with huge amounts of student debt – on the hunt for their first full-time job. 'All of the jobs that I wanted, I didn't have the requirements for – often entry-level jobs would require you to have four or five years of experience,' said Ms Atkins, who bounced between part-time roles and working in restaurants for years. 'Extremely high uncertainty' 'It is definitely an outlier,' said Mr Matthew Martin, senior US economist at Oxford Economics. 'You'd expect that the white collar positions would not be as exposed to cyclical downturns (as other jobs).' Job openings for professional and business services have declined by more than 40 per cent since 2021, according to research authored by Mr Martin, with tech sector jobs disproportionately impacted. 'Part of that is a slower pace of hiring as they right-size after they hired at very high rates in 2022, but at the same time the sheer volume of decline also points to the impact of AI,' he told AFP, signaling the potential of artificial intelligence technology to eliminate some entry-level roles. Mr Gregory Daco, chief economist at EY-Parthenon, said slowing tech sector hiring as companies focus on holding on to their talent 'disproportionately' affects recent graduates. The hiring slowdown is also a result of US President Donald Trump's far-reaching policy swings since taking office in January, said Daco. 'The experience of extremely high uncertainty when it comes to the administration's trade, tax or other policies has caused many firms to potentially slow down or freeze their hiring.' He cautioned, however, against jumping to the conclusion that AI had already begun to eliminate entry-level roles, pointing to a so-far limited uptake of the technology by most sectors. 'The reality is that a lot of firms are still in the early stages of adoption of these new technologies, and I think it would be a bit premature to assume that we've reached a level of use... that would have a visible macro impact.' 'Constantly working' The United States is perhaps the most expensive country in the world for a university education, with an average cost of US$27,673 (S$35,300) per year for an undergraduate degree, according to official data. In 2020, 36.3 per cent of US undergraduates took on federal student loans to help meet those spiraling costs, the data shows, with the Education Data Initiative putting average student loan debt for graduating students at US$29,550. Even without student loan debt, however, the weakening job market can leave some recent graduates feeling like they are stretched thin. Ms Katie Bremer, 25, graduated from American University with a dual-degree in Environmental Science and Public Health in 2021. It took her more than a year to find a full-time job – one not in her field – and even then, she had to supplement her income by babysitting. 'I felt like I was constantly working,' she told AFP. 'It seems overwhelming, looking at the costs, to try and make your salary stretch all the way to cover all the milestones you're supposed to reach in young adulthood.' There is little hope on the immediate horizon, with analysts warning that it will likely take some time for the labour market to resolve itself, with part of that adjustment likely seeing students picking different majors. 'It's likely to get worse before it gets better,' said Ms Martin. Looking at her peers, many of whom are saddled with huge debt and struggled to find work, Ms Bremer says she worries for their collective long-term future. 'There have been times where I've thought, 'How is my generation going to make this work?'' AFP
Barnama
06-07-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Top News Headlines In Indonesia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand & Vietnam: July 6, 2025
The Attorney General's Office has emerged as the most trusted law enforcement institution in Indonesia, overtaking both the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the National Police, according to the latest survey by the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI), led by political analyst Denny Januar Ali. 1. INDONESIANS NOW TRUST PROSECUTORS MORE THAN KPK, NEW SURVEY REVEALS -- JAKARTA GLOBE Indonesia is planning to reduce its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) imports from the Middle East and increase procurement from the United States, according to Deputy Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Yuliot Tanjung. 2. INDONESIA TO SHIFT LPG IMPORTS FROM MIDDLE EAST TO US -- ANTARA 1. COOPERATIVES TO BE ECONOMIC DRIVERS -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR During the International Cooperative Day celebration, the government outlined its vision to promote the people-centric enterprises to improve the socio-economic status of the citizens. There are 38,638 cooperative societies to date in Myanmar. 2. COMPULSORY DIGITAL SCALES FOR GOLD TRADERS -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR The Federation of Myanmar Gold Entrepreneurs Association has instructed all gold shops to switch to digital weighing scales as the government wants to protect consumers. The association also asked gold refineries, merchants and online traders to obtain trading licences. SINGAPORE 1. TTSH TO DEMOLISH CENTURY-OLD PAVILION WARDS, KEEPING ONE AS HERITAGE MARKER -- THE STRAITS TIMES After standing for around a century, all but one of Tan Tock Seng Hospital's (TTSH) nine remaining pavilion wards will be demolished, with the retained ward to serve as a heritage marker. 2. CPF AT 70 – THE EVOLUTION OF A DO-IT-ALL SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEME THAT STILL FINDS IT IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE EVERYONE -- CNA Twelve years ago, Mr Francis Tan and his spouse sat across from a Housing and Development Board (HDB) officer, preparing to sign the deed for their first home. THAILAND 1. ARMY SAYS CAMBODIAN TROOPS STAGING BORDER STANDOFFS TO SHOW DOMINANCE ONLINE -- THE NATION 2nd Army reveals Cambodian troops cross into Thai territory to stage provocations, film videos, and conduct IO aimed at portraying dominance over Thai forces. 2. BETTING ON CASINO BILL -- BANGKOK POST The Pheu Thai-led government is again under pressure to put on hold the controversial entertainment complex bill after Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat indicated the bill needs to be reviewed by the newly formed cabinet before proceeding with it further. VIETNAM 1. OVER 10 MILLION FOREIGN VISITORS IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS -- VIETNAMPLUS Vietnam recorded nearly 10.7 million international arrivals in the first half of 2025. In June alone, about 1.5 million foreigners visited the country and air travel remained popular, with over nine million arrivals. 2. VIETNAM-BRAZIL WARM UP TIES IN RIO DE JANEIRO -- VIETNAMPLUS Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva discussed strengthening bilateral relations. They also touched on the Action Plan to implement the Vietnam-Brazil Strategic Partnership for the period of 2025-2030. -- BERNAMA BERNAMA provides up-to-date authentic and comprehensive news and information which are disseminated via BERNAMA Wires; BERNAMA TV on Astro 502, unifi TV 631 and MYTV 121 channels and BERNAMA Radio on FM93.9 (Klang Valley), FM107.5 (Johor Bahru), FM107.9 (Kota Kinabalu) and FM100.9 (Kuching) frequencies. Follow us on social media : Facebook : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatv, @bernamaradio Twitter : @ @BernamaTV, @bernamaradio Instagram : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatvofficial, @bernamaradioofficial TikTok : @bernamaofficial
