Neighbourhood Health is an ambitious approach designed to transform how health and care services work together across Leeds, focusing on prevention, community empowerment, and integrated support. Its core aim is to help people live healthier, more independent lives while improving their experience of care and reducing health inequalities. The approach builds on existing strengths in Leeds, including Local Care Partnerships, integrated neighbourhood teams, community connectors, mental wellbeing services, and multidisciplinary working. 

Neighbourhood Health aligns with the Leeds city-wide ambitions to create a healthy, growing, thriving and resilient city. This includes promoting wellbeing for all, supporting inclusive economic growth, strengthening communities, and developing sustainable, net zero health and care models. 

Work for 2026/27 focuses on creating system conditions that enable integrated, proactive neighbourhood care. Leeds is part of the first wave of the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme, supporting local efforts to scale and embed neighbourhood models. Key areas include developing new financial mechanisms, establishing neighbourhood health hubs, and strengthening integrated neighbourhood teams through workforce ecosystems. 

The programme emphasises population health analysis, co-design with communities and staff, and close collaboration across sectors. Overall, Neighbourhood Health aims to deliver better outcomes, reduced demand, and a more sustainable, person-centred health and care system for Leeds. 

We have additional photos and visuals available, if you would like them let me know. The ones attached are from our neighbourhood health event (details below and those in photos attached are highlighted below in yellow).   

Thursday 5 February colleagues from across the Leeds Health and Care Partnership gathered at Leeds Civic Hall for the #TeamLeeds Neighbourhood Health co-design event. Hosted by Tim Ryley, Accountable Officer for the ICB in Leeds and Dr Mariana Pexton ,Deputy Chief Executive of Leeds City Council, joint SROs for the programme. The event was a showcase for collaboration and innovation and will shape how the Partnership will work together to take the city’s approach to neighbourhood health forward. 

Those who spoke as on the benefits of neighbourhood health for the people of Leeds included: 

• Dr Minal Bakhai MBE, Director of Primary Care and Community Transformation; National Lead for the Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme (NNHIP) , NHS England 

• Dr Tom Gibbs, Leeds GP and Clinical Director of the York Road Primary Care Network 

• Lucy Shuttleworth, Genral Manager, Adults and Business Unity, Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust 

• Dr George Winder, Leeds GP and Chair and Clinical Director of Seacroft Primary Care Network 

• Cllr Emma Flint, Chair of the Leeds Health and Wellbeing Board, Executive Member, Equality, Health and Wellbeing 

• Nick Hart, Head of Customer Contact at Leeds City Council 

• Nicola Nicholson, NHS West Yorkshire ICB in Leeds NNHIP coach