The NH Connections medical bus service (NHC) is a health transportation service established in 2006 to support people to access medical and health services not available in or near their home communities or location. Learn about passenger eligibility for the NHC service. The routes and schedules support typical patient referrals and is designed to allow for route and/or schedule modifications over time as services and referral patterns change. NHC has an active advisory committee in place that includes a patient, community representative (mayors), and FNHA representative.
Ridership continues to grow year over year, surpassing 15,000 in 2018, with an annual mileage of 571,867 miles/920,331 km's in 988 trips (19 per week).
COVID-19
NHC has taken active measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19 exposure. In addition to our regular safety procedures, we are taking the following additional measures:
- Only those individuals requiring travel for essential medical appointments.
- Introduced additional disinfecting cleaning to our regular, daily cleaning program of facilities and motorcoaches.
- Introducing commercial grade, sterilization foggers to the overnight cleaning process of the motorcoaches.
- Providing motorcoach operators and ticket office staff with gloves, disinfectant spray, and disposable towels for cleaning of touchpoint surfaces.
- Directing motorcoach operators to maximize fresh air to passenger cabin (we will not be recirculating air).
- All bookings must be made 24 hours in advance – No walk-ons.
- Implemented physical distancing on all our coaches – 1 person per seat.
- Installed Plexiglas partitions between the seats of our coaches.
Our buses
- NHC fleet replenished annually with newest safety and technology features available for coaches – Either two new mini coaches or one X345 prevost coach.
- Drivers certified in WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System) and First Aid/AED use and have completed the San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety education.
- Pick up and drop off locations are at NH hospitals and health centres and hospitals in communities outside of NH.
- Transport medical and laboratory specimens to labs for analysis and ship Red Cross equipment for patients from Terrace, Fort St. John and Prince George to other communities.
- The buses are equipped with:
- Fully wheelchair accessible. Coaches have four wheelchair spaces, and minibuses have two spaces.
- All coaches and some minibuses have wheelchair-accessible washrooms. Our coaches are the first in North America with this feature. (Washrooms should be used only when the vehicle is stopped).
- Wheelchair lifts and tie-downs.
- Seats that can be moved and adjusted to accommodate patient’s conditions.
- Patients who use wheelchairs are encouraged to bring a companion on their trip (your companion’s ticket will cost the same as yours).
- Northern Health is committed to accessibility, but please note that wheelchairs larger than 31” wide and 48” long cannot be accommodated.
For more information on accessibility and wheelchair washrooms, call 1-888-647-4997 (outside of BC call 1-250-564-7499).
- Fleet of five coaches servicing the long haul routes
- Seats 44 passengers
- Room for up to four wheelchair passengers
- Wheelchair-accessible washrooms (a first in North America) with baby-changing table
- First Aid/Automated External Defibrillator (AED) equipment for emergencies
- DVD player* and five overhead video screens
- Overhead closed luggage compartments
- Overhead LED reading light and driver-alert call button
- Individual air-conditioning vents
- 110V AC outlet at each seat for laptops and other needs
*Please bring your own standard audio headset.
- Fleet of six minibuses servicing the short haul routes
- Seats 27
- Room for two wheelchair passengers
- Our latest models have washrooms.
- First Aid/Automated External Defibrillator (AED) equipment for emergencies
- DVD/VHS player* and five overhead video screens
- Overhead luggage storage
- Overhead reading lights and driver-alert pull cord
*Please bring your own standard audio headset.
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