DPH report

The 2026 Director of Public Health report

“Communities at the Centre: Creating better health together in Leeds“

This year’s Director of Public Health report is about how we work with communities in Leeds.  We do this to improve people’s health and make health fairer for everyone.  We have used evidence and what we have learned from working closely with communities across Leeds. It shows why working with communities (using what we call community-centred approaches) is important to improve and protect the health of everyone in the city.

Community-centred approaches are central to our work to improve health in Leeds.  We are proud of our long history of working closely with communities and Voluntary Community Faith Sector (VCFS) organisations.  This made a real difference during the COVID-19 pandemic, where our strong, trusted relationships helped us better support communities.

This way of working is a strength of Leeds, and we want to value and celebrate it.

This report sets out recommendations to build on this to strengthen and scale up community-centred working in Leeds.

 

 

Previous Leeds DPH reports:

All directors of public health (DPH) are expected to produce an annual report for their area. Annual reports have played an important part in public health practice ever since the early days of medical officers of health. They remain an important vehicle for informing local people about the health of their community, as well as providing necessary information for decision makers in local health services and authorities on health gaps and priorities that need to be addressed. Their iterative nature also allows progress to be recorded and evaluated.

2025 – “Heat In The City: Our Health in a Warming Leeds“

This report explores the impact of rising temperatures in Leeds due to global climate change. It examines how these changes affect our citizens and highlights local efforts to raise awareness and mitigate risks to the public’s health. The report uses data, experiences, and the voices of the people in Leeds to shine a light on the health impacts of rising temperatures. These shared experiences have helped to inform the report and its recommendations.

To read the report click here
To read the Executive Summary click here
To watch our film “Heat In The City: Our Health in a Warming Leeds” click here
To download a transcript of the film click here
To see an accessible version of the report click here

 

2023 – “Ageing Well: Our Lives In Leeds”

What’s it like to age well in Leeds? ‘Ageing Well: Our Lives in Leeds’ is a powerful film sharing real stories from local people on their experience of ageing well in Leeds, and is part of this year’s Director of Public Health Report.

From the importance of social connections, keeping active and tackling health inequalities, these are some of the findings in the latest Director of Public Health Annual Report for Leeds, which looks at the health and wellbeing of people as they age and included over 900 local people aged over 50 sharing their experiences.

A PDF version of the report is available here
Watch our film ‘Ageing Well: Our Lives In Leeds’
The Executive Summary PDF is available here
Accessible version of this report

 

2022 – “In our shoes: Children and young people’s health in Leeds”

This report focuses on the current state of children and young people’s health in Leeds.  Including exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their lives.  Children were less likely to become ill with COVID-19 than adults.  They were not the focus of protective measures. However, the pandemic affected them profoundly and unequally.

A PDF version of the report is available here
Child-friendly summary report
An interactive version of the report is available here
Director of Public Health Annual Report 2022 ‘In Our Shoes’ film
Hazel’s story: https://youtu.be/Rmjapcrb9LU
Skye’s story: https://youtu.be/w-AAvfsYHyM

 

Older reports

Director of Public Health Annual Report 2017-18
Director of Public Health Annual Report 2016 Part 1
Director of Public Health Annual Report 2016 Part 2
Director of Public Health Annual Report 2014-15
Director of Public Health Annual Report 2013
Director of Public Health Annual Report 2012
Director of Public Health Annual Report 2012 (Facts and figures)
Director of Public Health Annual Report 2011
Director of Public Health Annual Report 2010
Director of Public Health Annual Report 2009

Local public health profiles (interactive reports by Leeds ODA)

Describing the people of Leeds, their health and inequalities:

Area Profile – demographics, health, mortality, life expectancy for areas within Leeds
Demographics in Leeds (GP recorded)
ONS mid year estimates demographics

Health data for download

Visit Data Mill North to access data files:
GP recorded conditions in Leeds
Life expectancy
Mortality rates