Chris Whitty’s 2024 Chief Medical Officer Annual Report put a strong spotlight on Health in Cities. It explored how life in urban areas shapes our wellbeing, the pressures that come with rapid growth, and the opportunities for improving health at scale. A full chapter in the report focuses on Leeds, written by the local public health team, and highlights the strengths and challenges of a large, diverse and fast-changing city.
This lunchtime session will give a clear and accessible overview of the report. It will explain how national findings connect with local priorities, and how partners across the NHS, local authority and the VCSE sector can use this insight in their day-to-day work. The webinar is suitable for anyone involved in improving health and reducing inequalities, whether you are working directly with communities, shaping strategy, or supporting frontline services.
The webinar will cover:
• An introduction to the CMO Annual Report, its purpose, and why cities are a central theme
• Key national messages about the design of cities: density, transport, air quality, employment, community safety, green infrastructure and social connection
• A guided look at the Leeds chapter, including local geography, demographics, health patterns and examples of citywide and neighbourhood-based public health projects
• How issues such as housing, climate resilience, deprivation and access to services interact in a city environment
• What the findings mean for organisations working to improve and protect health in Leeds, and where collaboration across sectors can have the biggest impact
• Practical reflections on how evidence from the report can support planning, partnership work and conversations with communities
Speaker
The session will be delivered by Pippa Bird from the Leeds City Council Public Health team, who contributed to the Leeds chapter of the report and will share local insight, context and examples.
Date: Wednesday 17 December 2025, 1.00pm–2.00pm
Format: Online webinar (Leeds Public Health Resource Centre)
