Rural N.S. patients worry as medical ride program comes to an end

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Nova Scotia Health said that "between exhausting federal funds and the complexities of rural, non-medical transportation, the program quickly became unsustainable."

People in some northern Nova Scotia communities say they’re worried about losing access to health care as a pilot program that offers rides to appointments is coming to an end on Dec. 1.

For three years now, the Northern Zone Transportation Pilot has helped people in East Hants, Colchester, Cumberland and Pictou counties get to non-urgent health-care appointments.

It’s offered through Nova Scotia Health and was intended to help improve access to care.

News that the rides won’t be available after this month is concerning to patients like Wanda Tingley, who has a traumatic brain injury and requires many doctors’ appointments that have her travelling from her home in Lantz, N.S. to the city.

“To take a cab from here to Halifax for my head treatment is $123 one way,” said Tingley. “I’m 65 years old on old age security.”

Tingley points out there are no public transit options in the area. When the program began in 2023, she says she used it “pretty much almost daily.” Now, she depends on it a couple of times a week.

“I do have medical appointments in December, but I’ll have to cancel them,” she said.

Andrew Doughty, the owner of Handy Cabs, has been working under the program to drive patients to medical appointments. He estimates his company makes 250 trips a month.

“We’re picking up people that physically can’t get to the hospital, whether it’s for financial reasons. We’ve got people that can’t drive, that aren’t legally allowed to drive anymore,” he said.

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