A record number of patients in need of medical services to and from the Northern Health region took the bus in 2011.
Ridership in Northern Health's Connections program increased 14 per cent over 2010 with close to 12,000 people choosing to take advantage of the non-emergency service provided by Diversified Transportation.
"The largest route increases are between Prince Rupert and Prince George, Prince George to Vancouver, Fort St. John to Prince George, and Valemount/McBride to Prince George," said Dave Christie, a regional manager for Diversified Transportation, in a press release. "We expect the ridership to continue to grow over the coming years."
The bus service was introduced to the northern B.C. region in 2006, and that year it delivered 6,100 patients to their destinations. The wheelchair-accessible buses allow patients of any age or income to travel to out-of-town medical appointments. The cost of return trips ranges from
$20 to $80.
Buses to Vancouver leave from Prince George on Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, returning to the the city on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
The service is also available in Prince Rupert, Terrace, Fort St. James, Burns Lake, Mackenzie, Chetwynd, Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, Grande Prairie, Fort Nelson, Kamloops and Quesnel. Clients who do not live in those cities must make their own travel
arrangements to meet the bus.
Patients for short-distance trips have same-day appointments, while long-distance travellers are delivered the day before for their appointments.
The buses are also used to deliver payloads of laboratory work and medical equipment. Some are equipped with
wheelchair-accessible washrooms.
"Ninety-five per cent of the passengers have said they are happy with the service, and half have used it more than once," said Reina Pharness, Northern Health's regional manager of external business contracts.
Clients currently phone 1-888-647-4997 to make reservations. This year, Northern Health plans to introduce an online booking system on its website, www.northernhealth.ca/nhconnections.
