News Release                            For Immediate Release

                                                                                                                     January 19, 2009

Health Unit Delivers Services

The Grey Bruce Health Unit meets or exceeds provincial standards in the provision of Public Health services. Reporting to the Board of Health, Medical Officer of Health, Dr Hazel Lynn, notes increases in the levels of services to the public in a number of areas.

“We are pleased the new facility is able to provide improved Public Health services to the community.” says Dr. Lynn. The latest flu vaccine clinics resulted in record numbers. Client numbers are up at the community clinics, including sexual health. The numbers receiving Food Handling Certification training are up significantly from 2007. The provincial standard for prenatal screening is 25%; the Healthy Babies Healthy Children program has a 95% prenatal screening rate.

The Health Unit is required to fulfill minimum provincial standards for delivery of services in order to receive program funding. No programs have been reduced because of inability to fulfill service provision benchmarks.

More than simply meeting standards, the Grey Bruce Health unit is on the leading edge of service delivery with a number of programs and research projects. The Safe Strong Clean initiative on community wellness was presented at the Ontario Public Health Association conference last November. The “Love Them, Immunize Them!” vaccine campaign was recognized by the Nation Immunization Conference. The Health Unit is involved in new research with the School Health Action Planning & Evaluation System through the Population Health Research Group (formerly Health Behaviour Research Group) at the University of Waterloo. The Moving Forward project, assisting high-risk families break the cycle of poverty, is profiled in an upcoming provincial report on Public Health standards. Unique to Grey Bruce, ECADS or Early CRBN (Chemical/Biological/Radiological/Nuclear) Attack Detection Surveillance system provides Public Health with an early warning of a disease outbreak in the community.

Our dedicated and conscientious staff shares a vision of community health and wellness. Their commitment and use of innovative approaches, including new technologies, in the delivery of Public Health programs ensures the provision of the best possible services for the community.

As the provision of Public Health is changing in Ontario, the new Public Health Standards and Protocols includes a new quarterly report on the delivery of services by each Health Unit. The first report rolls out in March. The Grey Bruce Health Unit is confident this new public report will confirm residents in Grey and Bruce are well served in the delivery of their Public Health programs.

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For more information:

Dr. Hazel Lynn

Medical Officer of Health

Grey Bruce Health Unit

519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456 ext. 1269