A Nelson woman and two other kidney dialysis patients are now paying for private transportation to the regional hospital in Trail.
Millie Harper was one of five patients left in the lurch when the Nelson CARES bus service ended in May. It provided three-day-a-week round trips for $35.
Harper said they have since negotiated with a private operator in Castlegar.
“As long as three of us go, he will only charge us $50 a return trip, which is more than we were paying before, but he has come down in his price,” she said.
Previously they were quoted $110 to $190 per round trip.
While they are getting to their appointments, Harper said that still adds up to $150 a week, or about $600 per month.
“I think there should be some help for us, seeing how they will not put dialysis in Nelson. They should help us with buses or with our fees. We’re all seniors on pensions, so it’s taking a lot out of our funds. We’re having to dip into our savings. I guess they figure we should be able to suck it up, but I just don’t think it’s fair.”
Harper said while they have the option of taking conventional transit, which is cheaper, it’s much less convenient, as they first have to get downtown to catch the bus, transfer at Selkirk College in Castlegar, then transfer again downtown Trail to get to the hospital. It’s the same on the way home, with some waits.
By contrast, both the Nelson CARES bus and the current private operator pick them up at their homes and deliver them directly to the hospital.
“If you’re saving money on one end, you’re paying it on the other to take a taxi down to the bus,” Harper said.
Harper said of the two other patients who used to take the CARES bus, one now has his wife driving him to appointments but she is not sure about the other.
Even if those two wanted to use the private service, they couldn’t, because the van doesn’t have room for more people. It has to accommodate a wheelchair in addition to the driver and three passengers, Harper said.
Interior Health previously told us they would work with the patients to see what could be done within the existing system to accommodate them, but Harper said they haven’t heard very much and are trying to get someone’s ear.
“They did say they are still trying to get funding for it, but it’s the same answer as six weeks ago. Nothing has changed.”
We’ve asked Interior Health for an update.
