The Vita and District Handivan Service has been restored.

Jim Swidersky is Reeve for the Rural Municipality of Stuartburn. He says earlier this year, Southern Health announced the service would be discontinued. But Swidersky argued the resource is very valuable and needed by seniors and community members. So, a committee was formed to approach the regional health authority to reconsider its decision.

"We said that we'd like to see a little bit of partnership with the RHA," recalls Swidersky. "At first the RHA was not too open but after several discussions, I'm happy to report they are a valued partner in our partnership here to run the handivan service in our community right now."

Swidersky says the committee that helped restore the service was made up of representatives from the Vita Resource Centre, RM of Stuartburn, Vita and District Health Centre Foundation, the hospital and community members. He adds the service should be back up and running this week.

Over the last number of years, the RHA ran the service Monday to Friday. Swidersky says offering the service is very dependent on driver availability, but he is hopeful they can run the van whenever it is needed. He notes historically it has been a popular service.

"The seniors use it for not only medical services but they use it for outings, adult day programs, that type of thing and the activities department out of the personal care home in Vita, they use it," adds Swidersky.

Swidersky says under the former system, Southern Health provided the administration to run the program. The RHA took the bookings and ran the billings. The RM of Stuartburn received an annual grant and turned it over to the RHA. He notes this new committee has gone over the books with Southern Health and it looks to be a viable service. Swidersky says the users will pay a per kilometre rate and the goal is not to make a profit but to break even.

"We've got a lot of people at the table, good partnerships and we're rolling instead of just scrambling," says Swidersky. "I know we scrambled hard for about a month, but at least after the month it looks like we've got things on board."

Swidersky says they are now recruiting drivers for the service.

Read More:

"It's Another Strike To Us"