Health PEI sends out health survey

Surveys from Health PEI have started arriving in Islanders' mailboxes.

They pose a range of questions on everything from where Islanders have gone to see a family doctor to how many fruits and vegetables they eat each day.

The survey also asks people to rate their mental health.

The last health care questionnaire on P.E.I. was done 16 years ago.

Donna MacAusland, primary care analyst for Health PEI, said there's been no decision on future surveys.

"I'm not sure if we're going to do it again next year. We'll see what the response rate is, we'll see how the input comes into us, what kind of responses we get," said MacAusland.

"We'll make sure that we use that in our planning for primary care services and programs across the province, and we'll take a look."

MacAusland said printing and mailing costs were about $20,000. The survey, offered in both English and French, is also available online.

There are five primary care networks on P.E.I. The goal of the survey is to learn about health needs and to ensure Islanders have access to health care within 30 kilometres, wherever they live.

The health agency hopes one in five people fill it out, and so far, close to 2,000 people have.