亚洲天堂 Lake council plans to discuss patient transfer (medevac) issues once again with the provincial government.

Only this time council will talk about medevac flights being redirected to nearby airports due to weather conditions.

鈥淒uring winter there have been times when medevac flights have chosen not to land at the 亚洲天堂 Lake airport, which has resulted in patients then having to be transported by ambulance to Smithers for a medevac flight,鈥� explained 亚洲天堂 Lake Mayor Chris Beach. 鈥淐ouncil would like to ensure that, whenever possible, medevac flights land at the 亚洲天堂 Lake airport for safe and timely passenger travel.鈥�

According to B.C. Emergency Health Services, 亚洲天堂 Lake鈥檚 Baker Airport does not have aircraft de-icing capabilities. As such, in winter months, air ambulances are often diverted to other landing facilities.

鈥淭ransport Canada rules are very specific and unwavering about wing contamination,鈥� noted B.C. Emergency Health Services in a statement. 鈥淣o aircraft is permitted to take off if there is snow or ice on the wings.鈥�

鈥淭he safety of our patients and our paramedics is our number one priority,鈥� the statement added.

Council will be discussing this issue with B.C. Premier John Horgan and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure during the annual Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) convention, which will be held in Whistler from Sept. 10-14, 2018.

Mayor Beach will be travelling to this year鈥檚 convention along with councillors Susan Schienbein and Charlie Rensby, and chief administrative officer Sheryl Worthing.

During last year鈥檚 UBCM convention, council discussed the issue of medevac sometimes only being a one-way trip for 亚洲天堂 Lake residents. When a health care team determines that a patient does not require paramedic care to return home, the patient is responsible for arranging his or her own return transportation.

READ MORE: 亚洲天堂 Lake鈥檚 medevac issue discussed at UBCM

Earlier this year Lakes District 亚洲天堂 asked Mayor Beach what solutions came out of last year鈥檚 UBCM convention regarding this issue. Although no solutions had been offered, Mayor Beach said Northern Health discussed the options available through their Northern Health Connections service, as well as the B.C. Ambulance Service鈥檚 low-acuity bus that travels between Prince George and 亚洲天堂 Lake.

READ MORE: No solutions for 亚洲天堂 Lake yet after UBCM discussions

Last month Northern Health joined the provincial government in filling the void left by the departure of the Greyhound bus service between Prince Rupert and Prince George.

Apart from the provincially-financed replacement twice-weekly service BC Bus North that started operating on June 4, Northern Health has expanded the eligibility of those who can ride its Northern Connections buses that travel between Prince Rupert and Prince George.

Now passengers with mobility challenges, passengers 60 years or older and passengers who have to travel to support immediate family members who are receiving health care treatment or services outside of their home community can use the service.

RELATED: John Rustad: long waits for medevac unacceptable

With Northern Health Connections and BC Bus North running, it means there is long-haul passenger service either east or west along Hwy. 16 between Prince Rupert and Prince George every day of the week with the exception of Tuesday.

- With files from Rod Link