Case studies

Two years ago Leeds suffered an outbreak of measles. There were more than 30 confirmed cases in just three months, prompting an emergency response to contain the spread and get unvaccinated children immunised quickly. Since then, the city has worked hard to drive up vaccination rates more generally – and taking pro-vaccination messages direct to the public has played a key role.

Leeds City Council has commissioned its 37 neighbourhood networks to help tackle social isolation and loneliness. They provide a range of support, which continued throughout the pandemic, helping hundreds of vulnerable and frail older people stay connected.

Leeds City Council and the local NHS have adopted the House of Care model as a framework for developing self care. Health and care professionals have been given training and patients are being empowered with the skills and confidence to self-manage their own health. This forms part of our resource on self care.

It is important that councillors feel equipped to manage occasionally aggressive encounters with residents, including taking preventative steps to limit the risk of serious consequences. Leeds City Council helped councillors risk assess venues to ensure that they were safe and find appropriate alternatives if necessary.

Leeds Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB) is at the centre of setting the strategic direction of the local health and care system, and all key local health and care strategic decisions go to the board. This case study forms part of our integrated care systems (ICS) resource.

Summary As part of its financial inclusion strategy, Leeds City Council has developed programmes on financial capability. These include work with young children, as well as programmes for primary schools and older children. Financial capability training is also given to council staff by the Consumer Financial Education Body (CFEB).

The programme was designed to build trust and relationships through co-production and co-delivery, not only with the council, Public Health, Leeds CCG, and trusted local organisations; but through the creation of meaningful opportunities for local people and groups to act as COVID-19 community champions.

Men tend to have poorer health than women. In Leeds the public health team has sought to tackle this by getting a better understanding of men’s needs.

A GP and clinical director of a primary care network in Leeds has been integral in the promotion of COVID-19 vaccinations to local community members since the beginning of the vaccine rollout.

A women-only vaccination clinic was set up in a local area in Leeds experiencing lower vaccine uptake rates in order to provide a safe space for women to access the vaccine.