Unhappy with Public Health in Sudbury? Not According to our Numbers

FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 2012

A recent poll by Forum Research out of Toronto has ranked Sudbury as one of the unhappiest cities in Canada.

However, research conducted locally by the Sudbury & District Health Unit shows that when it comes to public health—Forum’s numbers just don’t add up.
According to Sudbury’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, Sudburians serviced by the SDHU are more than pleased.

“We keep a very close eye on client satisfaction at the Health Unit,” explained Sutcliffe. “Our research paints a much more positive picture of public health in Sudbury than Forum’s. In fact, over the past decade, our public polling results have consistently shown that over 97% of SDHU clients in Greater Sudbury are satisfied with our programs and services.”

“The Health Unit is responsible for protecting and promoting health in our communities,” adds Sutcliffe, “We can’t do this well if we aren’t constantly listening to those we serve and see each and every day.”

The Health Unit routinely monitors client satisfaction via the Rapid Risk Factor Surveillance System (RRFSS). RRFSS is an ongoing telephone survey which collects information from 1,200 local residents, aged 18 years and older, each year. The survey has been conducted on behalf of the SDHU by the Institute for Social Research at York University since 2001.

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