New partnership eases travel across hospitals including McMaster

VIA Rail and Canada’s Children’s Hospital Foundations (CCHF) are partnering to ease travel burdens for young patients and families across 13 children’s hospitals including McMaster Children’s Hospital.

“Canada’s geography can present real challenges for families who need specialized care,” says Adam Starkman, president and CEO of CCHF.  

“The 13 children’s hospitals in our network have demonstrated remarkable innovation and leadership in bringing that care to rural, remote and Indigenous communities, but there are times when hospital visits and stays are required.”

“Our new partnership with VIA Rail means that the hospitals in our network now have even more ways to ensure they can support kids and families, regardless of where they live,” he says.

The three-year partnership announced on Tuesday will also offer complimentary train travel to patients accessing care at other children’s hospitals along the Quebec City-Windsor corridor including CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal Children’s Hospital, CHEO, SickKids and Children’s Hospital in London. 

In the last year alone, kids and families across Canada turned to children’s hospitals 3.9 million times. 

Since it was announced in April, the program has already helped families book over 250 complimentary train journeys to and from specialized care.

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