Iqaluit (Feb 10/03) - Getting hurt is never fun; even worse is travelling thousands of kilometres to be treated.

Now there are toll-free phone numbers to bring some comfort to people medevaced south away from friends and family.

An idea from Nunavut Health and Social Services, separate phone numbers connect to medical boarding homes in Iqaluit (1-866-828-2386), Ottawa (1-866-864-9705), and Winnipeg (1-866-232-6212).

Boarding homes in Yellowknife, Edmonton and Churchill will accept collect calls until they get their own toll-free numbers.

The territory pays for 244 beds in the medical boarding homes, indicating the free phone service will get a lot of use.

"Oh definitely, it's wonderful to have," says Leena Burns in Larga Baffin Home, the Ottawa medical boarding home where she acts as jack-of-all-needs: caregiver, receptionist, driver and a shoulder to cry on.

The free phone line --located in the TV room -- is already getting a good workout, she says.

The phone line is a comforting way for patients in a foreign place to touch base with home, but it also helps family at home keep on top of medical updates on their loved ones.

While escorts could go with the patients, it isn't affordable or possible in many cases.

"It's a relatively low-cost way for the department to help improve the mental outlook of patients and decrease the stress often involved in separating families during times of medical distress," explains Ed Picco, health and social services minister.

The boarding home in Ottawa has 54 beds and is close to Ottawa General Hospital. Caregivers speak Inuktitut and accompany the patients to see the doctor.

"We try to make it a home away from home," Burns says.