March 19, has been set by PHC for their first medical appointment van trip to Nanaimo. The Gabriola MediGo van will provide free rides to Gabriolans going to medical appointments. Riders will book a ride on the PHC website or by phone at 250-325-7311. Once registered, the rider will be able to book future rides without re-registering. The first three months of operation will act as a pilot project and help determine usage and scheduling details.
Initially, this new service will run Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and while the schedule is under discussion with BC Ferries, it looks like we will leave at either 8:10 am or 9:20 am or be linked to a specific appointment. With the help of the Gabriola Ferry Advisory Committee, the PHC medical transport van (MediGo) will have assured loading. Riders will have to arrange their own TAP form (pink form from the clinic) and will still be able to have a companion accompany them.
Once on the “big island”, the van will shuttle between the ferry and Regional Hospital specialist’s locations. The van will then make a trip home on the ferry depending on final appointment times. For those choosing to be dropped at the ferry at an earlier time, and travel as a walk-on passenger, arrangements can be made for them to be met on Gabriola and taken home.
The PHC MediGo van and the Gabriola Auxiliary Drivers to Doctors programme, which will continue to operate as usual, are working together to provide drives to medical-related appointments to as many people as possible. Gabriola Taxi will also be working with us to help facilitate this service. There are many details to work out but like other new island programs we will learn and improve as we go.
“Access to non-emergency medical appointments - usually to see a specialist - is a key element to avoiding the emergency room” - explains Brenda Fowler, Executive Director at People for a Healthy Community (PHC).