January 25, 2017 – New Presentation Date to be Announced
The presentation planned for Thursday, January 26 from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. at Queen Mary Public School featuring Dr. Jean Clinton has been cancelled due to illness.
This presentation, “The First ‘R’ is Relationship”, is being rescheduled and a new date will be announced soon.
Stay tuned to www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca for details about the rescheduled presentation.
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For further information, please contact:
Brittany Cadence
Communications Manager
705-743-1000, ext. 391
January 25, 2017 – Community Consultation in Peterborough on January 26, 2017
To ensure that Peterborough residents’ voices are included in the Ontario government’s consultations on a basic income pilot project, the Basic Income Peterborough Network, in partnership with a number of local groups, has organized a local consultation event. Called The Basic Income We Want, a dinner and community discussion will be held on:
Date: Thursday, January 26, 2017
Time: 5:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Location: Seeds of Change, 534 George Street North, Peterborough.
The discussion will be open and inclusive and all voices will be heard in small discussion groups. A light dinner will be offered at 5:00 p.m. followed by a presentation by Tim Ellis, from the Ontario Basic Income Network at 5:30 p.m., and then consultation discussions.
The Ontario government will be launching a Basic Income Pilot Project in 2017 and recently released Hugh Segal’s discussion paper, titled “Finding a Better Way: A Basic Income Pilot Project for Ontario”. Government officials are currently holding community consultations across Ontario to gather input on the design and implementation of the pilot.
‘Basic Income’ is a monthly payment that makes sure all people have sufficient income to meet their basic needs. It is gaining momentum as a viable way to address poverty and income security.
Jason Hartwick, Co-chair of Basic Income Peterborough, emphasized that, “we especially want to make sure the provincial government hears directly from the people in Peterborough who would be most impacted by a basic income.”
For more information about the province’s basic income consultations and process visit: https://www.ontario.ca/page/basic-income-pilot-consultation
See also this guide: https://www.ontario.ca/page/consultation-guide-basic-income-pilot-project
Anyone who is unable to participate in these consultations can provide feedback through:
Basic Income Pilot: Public Survey https://www.ontario.ca/form/basic-income-pilot-public-survey
Or, via an e-mail directly to the provincial government at basicincome@ontario.ca
The province is accepting feedback on basic income pilot design and implementation until January 31, 2017.
Co-sponsors include Nourish, YWCA Peterborough Haliburton, Peterborough Poverty Reduction Network, Peterborough Public Health, Peterborough Social Planning Council, Peterborough District Labour Council, and United Way of Peterborough & District.
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For further information about The Basic Income We Want event, contact 705-743-3526, or events@nourishprojects.ca.
For more information about Basic Income Peterborough Network, contact:
Susan Hubay : hubay@sympatico.ca
Jason Hartwick: jason_hartwick@yahoo.ca
January 20, 2017 Free Presentation for Parents and Caregivers on January 26:
PLEASE NOTE: This event was cancelled and will be rescheduled. Please check back for the new date and time.
“The First ‘R’ is Relationship”
Peterborough Public Health and the City of Peterborough invite the community to enjoy a free presentation by Dr. Jean Clinton on the power of relationships on children’s brain development and mental health. Entitled “The First ‘R’ is Relationship”, this presentation will take place in the Queen Mary Public School Auditorium on Thursday, January 26 from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Dr. Clinton’s talk will be of particular interest to parents, early years professionals, teachers and anyone involved with young children. Dr. Clinton is highly regarded as a knowledgeable and engaging presenter with a wealth of experience to share.
Dr. Clinton is an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster. She is on staff at McMaster Children’s Hospital with cross appointments in Pediatrics and Family Medicine, and an Associate in the Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Toronto and Sick Children’s Hospital. Her expertise focuses on the development of young minds and she is recognized internationally as an advocate for children’s issues. Her special interest lies in brain development, and the crucial role that relationships and connectedness play in child health and development. More information about her is available at www.drjeanclinton.com.
There is no registration required, and light refreshments will be served. Queen Mary Public School is located at 1445 Monaghan Road in Peterborough.
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For further information, please contact:
Brittany Cadence
Communications Manager
705-743-1000, ext. 391
January 13, 2017 – National Non-Smoking Week Runs January 15-21
January 18 is Weedless Wednesday, an annual event held during National Non-Smoking Week (January 15 – 21, 2017) encourages those who smoke to give quitting another try for one day.
For those who have committed to quit smoking in 2017, this is an ideal time to strengthen your New Year’s intention or recommit if you’ve fallen off track. It may also be a good time for those who are struggling or trying to quit on their own to consider accessing tobacco cessation support services available in the community.
On Weedless Wednesday (January 18, 2017) Peterborough Public Health is partnering with the STOP (Smoking Treatment for Ontario Patients) Program to offer five weeks of cost-free nicotine replacement therapy and smoking cessation information.
“Reaching for a cigarette is not solely a function of choice,” said Mary Pat Cannon, Public Health Nurse in the Tobacco Use Prevention program. “Nicotine, the addictive substance in cigarettes makes going without a cigarette downright uncomfortable.”
To help manage withdrawal, Peterborough Public Health makes cost-free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) available, improving chances of success. Cannon explained that “while using NRT, it can be easier to take control of triggers or cues to smoke, for example rather than taking a smoke break, socialize with friends and co-workers in a non-smoking environment, and if stress builds go for a walk or find some ‘down time’ for yourself. It helps to think about life as a non-smoker … one day, one craving at a time!”
To register for the STOP Program and for more information on local quit smoking supports available, please contact Peterborough Public Health at 705-743-1000, ext. 330 or visit www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca.
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For further information, please contact:
Mary Pat Cannon, Public Health Nurse
Tobacco Use Prevention Program
705-743-1000, ext. 217
January 13 – To view the meeting summary for the January 11 Board of Health Meeting click image below:
January 11, 2017 – Join the Breakfast Session on “Job Analysis for Psychosocial Risk” on Wednesday, January 25
Job fit is one of 13 psychosocial factors identified in the National Standards on Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace. In our more brain-based economy, psychological fit is as important as assessing the physical demands of a job. Understanding what the psychological demands of a job are assists workplaces in such areas as hiring, training and performance management. In addition, job analysis is an essential tool when modifying jobs to ensure a better fit for employees.
The Peterborough Health at Work Committee is hosting a breakfast session on Wednesday, January 25 on Job Analysis for Psychosocial Risk presented by Dr. Fergal O’Hagan, Assistant Professor at Trent University and Director of Research at Adaptive Health Care Solutions.
This information session is ideal for HR professionals, occupational health and safety specialists, managers, labour relations specialists and employers. The session will be held at Peterborough Public Health, 185 King Street. Registration and continental breakfast begins at 8:00 a.m. with the formal session running from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. Advance registration is required. For more information and to register, visit www.Eventbrite.ca and search “Job Analysis for Psychosocial Risk”.
Locally, the Peterborough Health at Work Committee has a mandate to support workplaces in creating healthy work environments with an emphasis on psychological health and safety. The committee includes representatives from Peterborough Public Health, The Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA HKPR), Community Counselling and Resource Centre (CCRC), Adaptive Health Care Solutions, and Balance at Work as well as a volunteer.
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For further information:
Monique Beneteau, Peterborough Public Health
Chair, Peterborough Health at Work Committee
705-743-1003 ext. 309
mbeneteau@peterboroughpublichealth.ca
January 9, 2017 – Calorie Amounts Now Required on Menus for Food Service Providers with 20+ Locations in Ontario
Local residents will now be able to make more informed food decisions at certain food premises thanks to Ontario’s new “Healthy Menu Choices Act” that took effect January 1, 2017.
The new legislation only affects food service providers with 20 or more locations in the province. This means calorie tallies will now be seen on menus at approximately 80 local food premises according to Peterborough Public Health.
“More and more people are paying close attention to what they are eating, so providing this calorie information is one way to encourage healthier food choices,” said Dr. Rosana Salvaterra, Medical Officer of Health. “For those who aren’t aware of how many calories are in certain foods, providing this information directly on the menu will help them better understand how to balance out their caloric intake throughout the day.”
Calories are a measure of how much energy is in the food we eat. Knowing how many calories are in our food can help us get the right amount of energy for our needs. Dr. Salvaterra noted that individual calorie needs vary depending on a number of factors, including activity level, age and gender.
Residents will now see the number of calories for each food and beverage item included on the menus, labels or tags at several local food service providers, such as restaurants, coffee shops, convenience stores, grocery stores, and movie theatres. Food service providers are also required to post an educational statement for customers about average daily caloric needs. For an updated list of local food premises affected by the legislation, click here or visit www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca.
Public Health Inspectors at Peterborough Public Health are in the process of receiving provincial designation to enforce the new act. Once this is in place, they will verify that caloric information is properly posted at required food premises as part of their inspection routine. Inspectors will only be checking for labelling compliance, and not confirming caloric values. Local residents can also submit complaints regarding menu labelling to Peterborough Public Health by calling 705-743-1000, ext. 232 or emailing info@peterboroughpublichealth.ca.
Ontario is the first province in Canada to require this type of menu labelling to help make it easier for people to make informed and healthy choices about what to eat when dining out or purchasing ready-to-eat meals to take home.
For more information, please refer to Health Canada’s Estimated Energy Requirements.
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For further information, please contact:
Brittany Cadence
Communications Manager
705-743-1000, ext. 391
January 6, 2017 – Location: J.K. Edwards Board Room, Peterborough Public Health,
Jackson Square, 185 King St., Third Floor
Media and the community are advised that the next Board of Health meeting will take place on Wednesday, January 11, 2017 at 5:30 p.m.
To download the agenda and the online board package, please visit:
http://www.pcchu.ca/about-us/about-us-2/board-of-health/meeting-agendas
This meeting is open to the community and members of the media. Guests are asked to use the buzzer located on the wall to the right of the main front doors to alert Peterborough Public Health staff when they arrive. The board room is located on the third floor of Jackson Square, 185 King St. Free parking is available after 6 p.m. on the street or across the road at the King St. Parkade.
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For further information, please contact:
Brittany Cadence
Communications Manager
705-743-1000, ext. 391
January 5, 2017 – New Drop Off Service at 185 King St. Starts January 16, 2017
Starting January 16, residents can drop off their private well water samples at Peterborough Public Health offices located at 185 King St. and these will be sent to the local Public Health Ontario Laboratory for testing.
“We are pleased to make it easier for residents in Peterborough county or city to get their well water samples tested by dropping them off at the same location where they pick up the sample bottles,” said Atul Jain, Manager of Environmental Health Programs. “Water quality changes over time, that’s why we recommend testing private wells three to four times a year to prevent health risks. We hope by making this testing service more accessible that residents will test their well water more regularly.”
Jain explained how Peterborough Public Health has set up a new courier service between its downtown location at 185 King St. and the Public Health Ontario Laboratory located at 99 Hospital Drive. Free sample bottles are available on the third floor by the main counter at 185 King St. as well, so now residents can pick up a bottle and return it to the same location. Residents can continue to deliver their water samples directly to the Hospital Drive lab itself between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., and the water sample drop off at the Havelock Belmont Methuen location remains active as well.
Water samples can be dropped up between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon on Fridays. This service is available to all residents and cottagers at no charge in Peterborough County and City.
Residents will receive their water quality results through mail or by calling Public Health Ontario’s Interactive Voice Response at 1-877-723-3426 (TTY: 1-866-828-2238). Residents with questions about their water quality results can call the Peterborough Public Health’s Safe Water Program at 705-743-1000, ext. 232 for free consultation.
The well water sample is tested for the bacterial contaminations total coliforms and E. coli. The presence of E. coli indicates the water has been contaminated with fecal material which can contain disease-causing microbes. These organisms can cause severe gastrointestinal illness. Anyone can become ill if they consume contaminated water, but the young, elderly and immunocompromised are at a higher risk. To find out how to test for other contaminants, please contact the Peterborough Public Health at 705-743-1000, ext. 232 or visit www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca, click on “My Home & Environment”, then “My Home”, then “Water”.
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For further information, please contact:
Brittany Cadence
Communications Manager
705-743-1000, ext. 391
January 5, 2017 – ED wait times increase as more patients present with seasonal illnesses
(Peterborough, ON) – The number of patients being seen in the Emergency Department (ED) at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) has risen from about 220 to 260 per day in recent weeks.
Approximately 20 per cent of these ED visits are patients presenting with respiratory symptoms, and this number is steadily increasing.
“We are seeing a substantial rise in the number of patients through the ED, which results in significantly longer wait times for patients” says Dr. Mark Troughton, Chief and Medical Director of the Emergency Department at PRHC. “This is a trend currently being seen throughout the region and across the province.”
Since the beginning of December, PRHC has seen a 50 per cent increase in the number of patients who require additional precautions for flu-like illness and/or vomiting and diarrhea. The hospital’s need for isolation beds has also doubled in the past month.
Although the number of lab-confirmed influenza (flu) cases in the community continues to rise, there are many other types of respiratory viruses circulating. Since December 21, PRHC has provided molecular rapid flu testing in-house. Of 63 flu tests performed on hospital patients, only 11 were positive for influenza.
“We have seen a major increase in pediatric patients with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), a number of whom have been admitted to the hospital for treatment,” adds Dr. Troughton.
In partnership with the Family Health Team and Peterborough Public Health, the Health Centre would like to remind patients to consider the options available to them before deciding where to seek healthcare.
“All patients with severe flu-like symptoms should always go the emergency room for care,” says Dr. Troughton. “Patients with mild symptoms can stay home and rest, while patients with moderate symptoms can visit their family doctor.”
This infographic can help you decide whether you should seek care at the ED.
The Peterborough Family Health Team reminds the community that family practitioners at clinics in the city and county offer same-day appointments and extended-hours clinics. They encourage residents to consider these options before visiting PRHC’s Emergency Department.
“The Peterborough Family Health Team is here to care for you and your family, so please contact your doctor’s office to find out what is available to you,” says Dr. Kaetlen Wilson, Medical Director for the Family Health Team.
If you determine that your medical situation does not require a visit to the ED, please consider the following options:
- Call your family doctor or nurse practitioner – clinic information will be offered via the office voicemail message
- Visit www.peterboroughfht.com for clinic hours and information
- Speak to a registered nurse by calling Telehealth Ontario (24 hours) at1-866-797-0000
While the Pediatric (POP) Urgent Care Clinic at PRHC has also seen an increase in patient volumes, it continues to offer after-hours care for patients under the age of 18 with urgent but non-life-threatening illnesses. For more information and clinic hours:
www.prhc.on.ca/cms/pop-urgent-care.
Peterborough Public Health reminds the public that the current flu strain matches well with this year’s vaccine. Peterborough Public Health is also running an additional flu shot clinic on Monday, January 9 at its Jackson Square location on 185 King St. in downtown Peterborough. Residents can call 705-743-1000, ext. 139 to book an appointment. With flu activity expected to last well into February, it’s not too late to get the shot from your local pharmacy, doctor’s office or walk-in clinic. For more information, visit the Flu Clinic Locator at www.ontario.ca/flu.
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For more information:
Brittany Cadence, Communications Manager
Peterborough Public Health
Tel: 705-743-1000, ext. 391
Renee Oortwyn, Operations Assistant
Peterborough Family Health Team
Tel: 705-749-1564, ext. 316
Michelene Ough, Communications Lead
Peterborough Regional Health Centre
Tel: 705-743-2121, ext. 4259
