Public Health

From April 2013 the council took on responsibility, from the NHS, for public health in Leeds.

Our work is about creating communities where everyone has positive wellbeing and health. It is about improving the health and wellbeing of local populations rather than treating diseases. It’s not just about health services; it spans wider issues like housing, social care, sport and fitness, education and employment – tackling the underlying causes of illness and unhappiness.

We look at effects that factors like genetics, personal choice and the environment have on the health of the population, and use this evidence to develop programmes to protect the overall health of the community that we all live in. We do this through education, promotion of healthy lifestyles and research for disease and injury prevention.

General achievements of public health include:

• increased life expectancy
• reduction in infant and child mortality
• elimination or reduction of many communicable diseases

Best City for Health and Wellbeing

Wellbeing starts with people; our connections with family, friends and colleagues; the behaviour, care and compassion we show one another; the environment we create to live together.

We all have a part to play in Leeds being a healthy city with high quality services.

The Health and Wellbeing Board helps to achieve our ambition of Leeds being a healthy and caring city for all ages, where people who are the poorest, improve their health the fastest.

Key links and documents