The 2025 Director of Public Health report
“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 focuses on three key themes:
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- Unequal impacts of rising temperatures in Leeds.
- How rising temperatures affect people with long-term health conditions.
- Emerging risks: Infections and air quality
The report emphasises that whilst climate change affects everyone, its impact on health is not equal. Older people, people with pre-existing health conditions, young children and those living in deprived communities are disproportionately at risk from the health impacts of climate change.
By working together, we can build a healthier and more resilient Leeds. This is a shared responsibility for local government, policymakers, healthcare professionals, local employers, community leaders, and citizens of Leeds. Addressing the health impacts of climate change requires collective action. The report is not just about identifying challenges; it’s about driving change.
Leeds has a proud history of collaboration, innovation, and resilience, and there are already inspiring examples of climate action taking place across our city. We must continue to build on these strengths to address this urgent issue.
This 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.
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- To read our report click here.
- To read the Executive Summary click here.
- An accessible version of the report and short film are under development and will be added to this webpage once finalised.
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.
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