The Leeds Health and Wellbeing Board has launched two plans, the Leeds Health and Wellbeing Strategy and the Healthy Leeds Plan, to improve the overall health of residents. These plans prioritize improving housing, leveraging research and technology, and providing support for carers, with the goal of disconnecting poverty from poor health and enhancing healthcare outcomes in the city.
What are the new plans to make Leeds a healthier city?
The Leeds Health and Wellbeing Board has launched two key plans: the Leeds Health and Wellbeing Strategy, aiming to disconnect poverty from poor health, and the Healthy Leeds Plan, a five-year agenda to improve healthcare outcomes. These plans focus on twelve priorities, including improving housing, leveraging research and technology, and providing support for carers, to enhance the overall health of residents.
Vision for a Healthier Leeds
In an ambitious move by the Leeds Health and Wellbeing Board, two pivotal plans have been unveiled with the aim of enhancing the health and wellbeing of Leeds’ populace. The first, the Leeds Health and Wellbeing Strategy, sets a bold intention to sever the ties between poverty and poor health. The second, the Healthy Leeds Plan, sketches out a transformative five-year agenda for the city’s healthcare system, aimed at elevating health outcomes for its residents.
The strategies were developed through a collaborative effort, involving key figures from across the city’s sectors. The Leeds Health and Wellbeing Board comprises senior representatives from Leeds City Council, the NHS, community sectors, and Healthwatch. The concerted efforts of these organizations reflect a deep understanding of the multifaceted nature of health. Their plans don’t just focus on healthcare services but acknowledge the impact of one’s living conditions, housing quality, employment, and the environment on overall health.
Taking a birds-eye view of the city’s health statistics reveals a stark disparity. A significant 26% of Leeds’ population resides in areas ranked within the top 10% of deprivation nationwide. This level of inequality has tangible consequences, manifesting as a life expectancy gap that spans 14 years for women and 11 years for men, depending on whether they live in the most affluent or deprived areas of Leeds.
Prioritizing What Matters
Central to the Health and Wellbeing Strategy are twelve priorities identified by city leaders as the most impactful. These priorities offer a comprehensive roadmap to improving residents’ health and include:
- Improving Housing: Ensuring that all have access to comfortable, safe, and affordable homes.
- Leveraging Research and Technology: Utilizing cutting-edge research and technology to benefit the health sector.
- Support for Carers: Providing substantial support for those who care for others.
Councillor Fiona Venner, the chair of the Leeds health and wellbeing board, and executive member for children’s social care and health partnerships at Leeds City Council, articulated the impetus for this initiative, “It’s more important than ever that we work together to improve people’s health and wellbeing and ensure everyone can live healthier lives.” She further asserted that this strategy is a comprehensive approach that doesn’t just address healthcare in isolation but integrates improvements across all societal facets to promote better health.
These strategies don’t exist in a vacuum but are aligned with broader city goals, like the Inclusive Growth Strategy, which underscores a healthy economy as the bedrock of a healthy city. It also dovetails with Leeds’ zero-carbon objectives, recognizing the far-reaching benefits of a green city on the health and wellbeing of its citizens.
Commitment to Action
The Healthy Leeds Plan reinforces the dedication of the city’s health and social care partners to tackle shared challenges head-on. Tim Ryley, the Accountable Officer at the Leeds Office of the West Yorkshire NHS Integrated Care Board, emphasized the urgent need for preventative measures, “Now more than ever, it is essential that we put more focus on improving people’s health and preventing them from becoming ill in the first place.” He also highlighted the importance of equitable access to health and care services and the customization of care to individual needs.
These plans are not just blueprints for the future of health in Leeds; they are actionable documents that outline a clear path forward. The Healthy Leeds Plan is a pledge to not only address current health challenges but to anticipate and prevent future health issues. It acts as an assurance to the people of Leeds that their health and care services are evolving to meet their needs.
For further insights into the Leeds Health and Wellbeing Strategy, information can be found at the dedicated website: www.leedshws.org.uk.
For media enquiries, please contact the Leeds City Council communications and marketing team via email at communicationsteam@leeds.gov.uk or by phone at 0113 378 6007.
- The Leeds Health and Wellbeing Board has launched two plans, the Leeds Health and Wellbeing Strategy and the Healthy Leeds Plan, to improve the overall health of residents.
- These plans prioritize improving housing, leveraging research and technology, and providing support for carers, with the goal of disconnecting poverty from poor health and enhancing healthcare outcomes in the city.
- The Leeds Health and Wellbeing Strategy aims to sever the ties between poverty and poor health, while the Healthy Leeds Plan outlines a transformative five-year agenda for the city’s healthcare system.
- The plans were developed through a collaborative effort involving key figures from Leeds City Council, the NHS, community sectors, and Healthwatch.
- The strategies align with broader city goals, such as the Inclusive Growth Strategy and Leeds’ zero-carbon objectives, recognizing the impact of a healthy economy and a green city on the health and wellbeing of citizens.