The Grey Bruce Health Unit wants hospitals to take a stronger role in community health.
Grey Bruce residents are not as healthy as they think, according to Public Health Epidemiologist Alanna Leffley.
When compared to the provincial average — Leffley says Grey Bruce residents drink more, smoke more, have more heart attacks as well as suffer from a much higher rate of injuries and accidents.
Leffley says it’s time health care providers began to look at the bigger picture and take a more community minded approach to health care.
All too often — She says hospitals and doctors are so busy dealing with health at the individual level, they forget about the community as a whole.
She says this can be changed through public promotions and campaigns to promote healthy living.
Leffley says the responsibility also falls on residents.
She says you need to ensure elected officials will put health care first and implement changes to promote physical activity.
Leffley also notes Grey Bruce residents have a shorter life expectancy than those from the city.
She says that’s because urban residents have more health resources available to them and are usually more active.
