Health Links
- HealthLink BC 811 – 8-1-1 is a free-of-charge provincial health information and advice phone line available in British Columbia. The 8-1-1 phone line is operated by HealthLink BC, which is part of the Ministry of Health. By calling 8-1-1, you can speak to a health service navigator, who can help you find health information and services; or connect you directly with a registered nurse, a registered dietitian, a qualified exercise professional, or a pharmacist. Any one of these healthcare professionals will help you get the information you need to manage your health concerns, or those of your family.
- HealthLink BC Epilepsy – An overview of Epilepsy by the Provincial Government of British Columbia.
- Master List of Medicines – Make a list of all your medicines and keep it up to date. At every visit with your doctor, review your master list of medicines.
- HealthLink BC Daily Planner – Plan a daily schedule of medicines. Post your medicine schedule in a prominent place near your medicine cabinet. Take it along when you travel. Record your medicine schedule in a daily planner that has spaces for hourly entries.
Other Support Links
- Lions Foundation of Canada (Seizure Service Dogs) – Lions Foundation of Canada’s mission is to assist Canadians with a medical or physical disability by providing them Dog Guides at no cost. To do this, the Foundation operates Dog Guides Canada, a preeminent national training school and charity that assists individuals with disabilities through specialized Dog Guide programs. These Dog Guides are provided at no cost to eligible Canadians from coast to coast despite costing $25,000 to train and place. The Foundation relies on donations from individuals, service clubs, foundations and corporations and does not receive any government funding.
Driving and Transportation Links
- TransLink – HandyDART
- Via Rail Pass – Epilepsy Canada
- BC Bus Pass Program
- Travel Assistance Program (TAP)
- Drivers with Epilepsy
Travel and accommodation assistance:
Programs and services are available to help with the cost of medical travel and accommodations for B.C. residents who must travel from their home to access medical care.
Airline travel and accommodation: Hope Air provides free round-trip travel for patients and their escorts when travelling long distance for care. They can also coordinate Canadian Cancer Society Lodge accommodation where available or hotels, as well as free Uber or taxi transportation from the airport to hospital in select communities.
For more information, visit hopeair.ca, call 1-877-346-4673 or email info@hopeair.ca.
Travel Assistance Program (TAP BC)
The Travel Assistance Program is a partnership between the Ministry of Health and private transportation carriers. The carriers offer discounted fares to residents travelling within B.C. for specialist medical care. Find out if you are eligible, how to apply and review a list of transportation carriers.
Travel Assistance Program (TAP BC)
BC Family Residence Program
The BC Family Residence Program provides accommodation assistance to enable families to stay together when their child requires medical care at BC Children’s Hospital or Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children, including premature babies and newborns with other health concerns.
Enhanced travel assistance is also provided through ground transportation for children and air transportation for patients of all ages.
Medical travel accommodation listing