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| North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice in the Legislature on Wednesday |
The return for the fall session made for the first opportunity for North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice to return to a familiar theme of the last week or so, the Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Health taking the members of the Legislature through some of the element of the recent moves towards health care travel for cancer patients in the Province.
The MLA used her time in the Wednesday Statements portion of the proceedings to provide members with a snapshot of the announcement of last week which will see Hope Air provide transportation for cancer patients seeking treatment far from home.
Receiving a cancer diagnosis can be extremely frightening and stressful. Figuring out the logistics of accessing the care you need can feel overwhelming and cause financial strain for people on their cancer journey, particularly for those living in rural and remote areas.
That's why our government has stepped up to help support people with cancer with a $20 million investment in travel programs to help British Columbians access the care they need no matter where in the province they live.
The Canadian Cancer Society is expanding three programs that will go a long way in helping patients living in rural areas. Hope Air will be able to offer their services to a greater number of patients and their families dealing with a cancer diagnosis and the treatments.
As an MLA living and representing rural and remote communities, I know what it's like to have to seek medical care far from home. I've had physicians on Haida Gwaii beg me to find a way to get their patients treatment in larger centres, because their patients are opting out of treatment. They simply could not afford the expense to get to the care that they need and deserve.
This investment will make a huge difference for people who live in rural and remote communities, whether it's places in my constituency like Haida Gwaii, or the Bella Coola Valley, or in the Interior, in northern BC, or in any corner of this province.
Expanding accessibility to the Canadian Cancer Society's travel treatment fund means many more families will receive vital financial support and expanding programs like the Wheels of Hope into areas of Vancouver Island and the Kootenays, as well as also eliminating patient fees at all four cancer care lodges. It will make a big difference.
Hope Air will now ensure changes to medical appointments can be accommodated with no cancellation or rescheduling fees to be paid by the patient. They have dramatically increased the family income threshold so more British Columbians can qualify for travel supports and more.
These changes will help patients and their families focus less time and energy on planning, worrying, advocating and problem-solving and more time caring for themselves and their loved ones and getting the rest that they need.
The video of her comments for the Legislature can be reviewed from the Video archive here, starting at the 1:52 PM mark of the day's proceedings.
You can review some of the Government's previous notes to the topic below:
September 28 -- Health Minister Adrian Dix releases details toward plans for additional Travel funding in British Columbia
September 25 -- Cancer Care travel expansion plans announced by MLA Rice
More items of interest from the Legislature can be explored here.
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