Hope Air surpasses all-time record for mission delivery, as patient demand soars to 25,000 travel arrangements through first 6 months of 2024
Aug 7, 2024 – Canada: Hope Air announced today that it has surpassed 25,000 travel arrangements setting a record for total travel provided by the charity in the first half of the year. Based upon soaring patient demand for Hope Air services, the charity will set a new, all-time record of mission delivery for families, individuals and children, needing to travel long distances to reach medical specialty care.
As a national charity dedicated to providing non-emergent, medical travel support programs for Canadians in financial need, Hope Air provides free airline travel and other support programs for patients and their medical escorts, to reach hospital care far from home. Through partnerships with commercial airlines, as well as a dedicated volunteer pilot program, Hope Air has facilitated over 7867 airline flights supporting people living in over 500 communities year to date.
“The soaring demand for Hope Air services reinforces the ongoing and significant challenges that exist in our health care system, in providing equitable access to medical care” said Mark Rubinstein, Chief Hope Officer. “Through partnerships with government and the private sector, we have demonstrated that we can significantly reduce barriers of distance and cost to access to health care, ensuring that no patient is left behind”.
Patients living in rural Canada face growing challenges in accessing the healthcare they need. Often, they are forced to make difficult decisions between attending medical appointments and providing for their families. This dilemma significantly impacts their health outcomes and overall well-being.
“Without Hope Air, I either would have needed to go into more debt to purchase flights in order to travel to and from the medical appointments – plus the cost of accommodations and meals or I would have had to drive for over 8 hours one way in winter road conditions and mountain summits to get to my appointments, and then do the same to get home – plus the costs of meals and accommodations.” Linda, BC Patient travels with Hope Air 2-3 times a year.
Hope Air’s 2024 Patient Survey revealed that many families in small, remote or rural Canada struggle with financial and logistical barriers to healthcare access, leading to postponed or missed medical appointments and deteriorating health conditions.
About Hope Air:
Hope Air is Canada’s only national charity providing free travel, accommodations, meals and ground transportation for Canadians in financial need who must access medical specialty care far from home. Since its inception in 1986, Hope Air has provided more than 200,000 travel arrangements for patients regardless of age or medical need.
For people living on a low income in small and rural communities, distance and cost are very real barriers to them accessing vital medical care. Hope Air is a unique and essential part of our Canadian healthcare system. Without the access Hope Air provides, our national system of universal healthcare coverage would fall short of its promise.
Hope Air is accredited by Imagine Canada’s Standards. This accreditation validates our commitment to good governance and transparency.
For more information, visit hopeair.ca.
Media Inquiries:
Jodi Lumsden
Director of Marketing & Communications
(647)688-5634
jlumsden@hopeair.ca
As a national charity dedicated to providing non-emergent, medical travel support programs for Canadians in financial need, Hope Air provides free airline travel and other support programs for patients and their medical escorts, to reach hospital care far from home. Through partnerships with commercial airlines, as well as a dedicated volunteer pilot program, Hope Air has facilitated over 7867 airline flights supporting people living in over 500 communities year to date.
“The soaring demand for Hope Air services reinforces the ongoing and significant challenges that exist in our health care system, in providing equitable access to medical care” said Mark Rubinstein, Chief Hope Officer. “Through partnerships with government and the private sector, we have demonstrated that we can significantly reduce barriers of distance and cost to access to health care, ensuring that no patient is left behind”.
Patients living in rural Canada face growing challenges in accessing the healthcare they need. Often, they are forced to make difficult decisions between attending medical appointments and providing for their families. This dilemma significantly impacts their health outcomes and overall well-being.
“Without Hope Air, I either would have needed to go into more debt to purchase flights in order to travel to and from the medical appointments – plus the cost of accommodations and meals or I would have had to drive for over 8 hours one way in winter road conditions and mountain summits to get to my appointments, and then do the same to get home – plus the costs of meals and accommodations.” Linda, BC Patient travels with Hope Air 2-3 times a year.
Hope Air’s 2024 Patient Survey revealed that many families in small, remote or rural Canada struggle with financial and logistical barriers to healthcare access, leading to postponed or missed medical appointments and deteriorating health conditions.
- 87% of respondents felt they had no other options for travel to medical appointments without our assistance.
- 45% indicated they would have missed 4-11+ days of work without Hope Air’s support, impacting their financial stability and access to care.
- 48% cited that reducing the cost of travel and easing the stress of getting to appointments far from home were the main reasons for contacting Hope Air.
About Hope Air:
Hope Air is Canada’s only national charity providing free travel, accommodations, meals and ground transportation for Canadians in financial need who must access medical specialty care far from home. Since its inception in 1986, Hope Air has provided more than 200,000 travel arrangements for patients regardless of age or medical need.
For people living on a low income in small and rural communities, distance and cost are very real barriers to them accessing vital medical care. Hope Air is a unique and essential part of our Canadian healthcare system. Without the access Hope Air provides, our national system of universal healthcare coverage would fall short of its promise.
Hope Air is accredited by Imagine Canada’s Standards. This accreditation validates our commitment to good governance and transparency.
For more information, visit hopeair.ca.
Media Inquiries:
Jodi Lumsden
Director of Marketing & Communications
(647)688-5634
jlumsden@hopeair.ca