In order to make the city a fairer and healthier place to live, Leeds City Council has announced the launch of a new programme working alongside a world-renowned academic, researcher, and campaigner.
The council are collaborating with University College London’s Institute of Health Equity (IHE) to lead a two-year project to overcome health inequalities and their knock-on effects, including illness and a lower life expectancy. This programme will bring evidence that Professor Sir Michael Marmot, Director of the IHE and leading epidemiologist, has gathered in order to make sure that people are provided with the right starting points for good health through their social determinants. These health building blocks will be focused on trying to decrease the health divide that currently exists between the richest and poorest communities in the city.
As part of the programme, there are a number of key policy objectives, with these including:
- Giving every child the best start in life
- Delivering fair employment for all
- Creating healthy and sustainable communities through good quality housing
Councillor James Lewis, Leader of Leeds City Council, said:
“We cannot and we must not shy away from the fact that many of our communities experience poor physical and mental health and people are living shorter lives than they should.
“We also know that whilst people in the poorest neighbourhoods often have the worst health, they are challenges right across the city.
“Health is linked to a wide range of factors outside healthcare, including housing, employment, education, and the communities we live in.
“That is why we are joining forces with Professor Sir Michael Marmot and his team. Working together will mean we can be assured that we are doing everything we can possibly do in Leeds to improve health by addressing the underlying causes of inequalities.”
The programme was launched at an event in Leeds Civic Hall, with key figures on both sides of the agreement speaking to an audience of around 150 local health leaders and other prominent figures. As part of the event, a panel discussion saw council Chief Executive Tom Riordan and Director of Public Health Victoria Eaton joined by representatives from West Yorkshire Combined Authority, NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, and health and housing charity GIPSIL.
Aiming to compliment, but also build upon, the existing work to improve local health across all backgrounds the programme will help to prioritise local resources, guide commissioning, and inform bids for relevant funding. This will be supported by partners from academia, the third sector, and the NHS.
The existing Health and Wellbeing Strategy in Leeds has set about an ambition to bring change faster to those who are most in need of it. An example of this is through housing projects that can provide affordable, warm, and secure homes. Research has, however, shown that the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic have hugely affected Leeds, and other major cities, as it worsened inequalities in health. This has led to sizeable differences in life expectancy between the richest and poorest neighbourhoods.
Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, public health and active lifestyles, Cllr Salma Arif, said:
“Our new partnership with Sir Michael and the Institute of Health Equity is a really significant development, and one that I’m sure will have a positive impact on many lives.
“We’re proud of the work we have done over the years to try to ensure Leeds is a city where no-one gets left behind, but we also know there is more to do.
“This collaboration with Sir Michael and his team will mean we are better placed than ever to achieve our goal of reducing health inequality, building an inclusive economy and creating safer, stronger communities.”
Now bringing the status of a city that has systems and structures that are strategically planned to tackle inequalities, the development has led to Leeds now being a ‘Marmot City’. Other such Marmot cities and regions include Coventry, Cheshire and Merseyside, and Gwent.
Image credit: iStock
