THUNDER BAY -- Northwestern Ontario has the shortest life expectancy in the province.
That’s according to an annual report by Health Quality Ontario, which shows the average life expectancy in Ontario is 81.5 years. But reaching an 80th birthday is less likely in the Northwest where the life expectancy is 78.6.
Northerners are also sicker, fatter and smoke more than their provincial counterparts. The report goes on to show that people living in Northwestern Ontario have the highest rate of premature avoidable death at 258 per 100,000 compared to 163.
All this despite being the third-most physically active out of 14 Local Health Integration Networks.
Lifestyle choices aren’t the exclusive reason behind Northern Ontario’s lower life expectancy. The report shows that access to care is more difficult in this region compared to other parts of the province.
Eighty-five per cent of people in the region say they have a primary care provider, the lowest in the province compared to the average of 93.
Only 29.2 per cent say they were able to see that provider when sick the same or next day compared to more than 45 per cent for the province.
More people in the Northwest, 68.2 per cent, find it difficult to get care on evenings and weekends without going to the emergency room than anywhere else in Ontario.
When they do see a care provider, people in this region do say they are able to ask questions, 89.7 per cent compared to the 83.3 average.
Meanwhile 84.7 per cent feel that their care provider spends enough time with them, which is above the 82 per cent across the province.
The entire report is available here.
