Northern Health Travel Program Ready to Roll

By 250 News

The Big Wheels are ready to roll!!

Northern Health has unveiled its Northern Health Connections service.

The  coach bus  will be used for the long haul  trips From  Prince George to Vancouver, Prince Rupert to Prince George, Fort St. John to Prince George, and Fort Nelson to Grande Prairie.

The mini bus will handle same day service from Valemount to Prince George, Valemount to Kamloops, Burns Lake to Prince George, Burns Lake to Smithers, Houston to Terrace, Prince Rupert to Terrace, Chetwynd to Grande Prairie, Hudson’s Hope to Grande Prairie, Quesnel to Prince George, and Mackenzie to Prince George.

At right, MLA’s Pat Bell and John Rustad watch as Deputy Premier Shirley Bond gets a "lift" from the wheelchair lift on the mini bus.

The  transportation program has a $4 million dollar budget, and there will soon be information released on accommodation partnerships.  Maxwell says even with the improved access to health services, that won’t mean Prince George Regional Hospital will be denied any additional services it may want to povide as a regional care centre.  "The argument could be made that with this new transportation system, people from the northwest no longer need to travel to Vancouver for treatment that is available in Prince George." says Maxwell.  He notes  PGRH can  handle 82 to 83% of the health care needs of northerners but says services like transplants,  and certain neurosurgeries will always be located in facilities where there is a large academic centre.

Maxwell is also  hoping those who use the service will let Northern Health know how it is working "This is the first year of the service, and its something new, so we know there will have to be some adjustments.  I am hoping  people will let us know how we can make it better.  We want people to help us make this service a success."

The full schedule’s are available on the Northern Health  website

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