Northern Health Introducing Assisted Travel

By 250 News

Northern Health is almost ready to begin phasing in a low-cost travel program for those who must go to larger centres for specialized health services. The new program is part of the Province’s commitment to expand access to health services for rural residents.

"The hope is the start of this service will make a real difference to Northern British Columbians, particularly seniors and people with limited incomes for whom travel for specialized health services has been a problem," says Deputy Premier/Prince George Mount Robson MLA Shirley Bond.

The new service will be gradually introduced to communities, to give time to work out problems and to get feedback on the service, says Northern Health CEO Malcolm Maxwell.

The service will have custom-fitted coaches and buses. All of the new vehicles will be wheelchair accessible. Highway coaches will also have wheelchair accessible washrooms, a first in North American.

Most long distance routes will have a minimum of two round trips a week. Short distance routes will have one same-day, round trip per week, letting a patient from a small community to travel into a larger center in the morning, receive health service, and return later that day.

The service will be available for any Northern BC residents who need a physician-referred health service that isn’t available in their home community. Fares will range from $20 return for short distance routes, to between $40 and $80 return for long distance routes, depending on the length of travel. Patients can find out specific travel dates and fares or reserve a seat by calling 1-888-647-4997. Information is also on-line at www.northernhealth.ca/nhconnections.

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