Neighbourhood health

This report details the findings from a series of groups in Leeds that Healthwatch Leeds visited and from listening to people in Leeds to understand how they experience neighbourhood health and what such an approach could mean for them in the future. This project was commissioned by Leeds Community Healthcare and led by Healthwatch Leeds, in partnership with Carers Leeds and Forum Central, and supported by numerous third sector organisations. They spoke to 859 people.

Key findings

The importance of integration of services

People were more likely to use a high number of services annually if they were aged 56 or older, had difficulties getting out of the house, had a mental health or neurodivergent condition, or received state benefits. People living in the most deprived postcodes tended to have contact with fewer services, despite being more likely to have a disability or health condition.

Self-care and self-management of disabilities and long term conditions 

Groups reporting lower satisfaction with ongoing support with their health condition included people under retirement age, people who have difficulties getting out of the house and people facing the greatest poverty. People with disabilities reported that they perceived their health condition as their biggest barrier to self-care, particularly for those living in the deepest poverty. Any community-based service development must take into account that people’s attitudes to GPs are the most valued first port of call for health worries.

Being in community spaces 

Most of the participants were not users of community spaces, including those at greater risk of inequalities. Most of our respondents were open to having appointments in public spaces, provided privacy is guaranteed, except for people with difficulty getting out of the house. 

Hesitancy was also greater among Black and mixed Black respondents, and respondents facing the greatest poverty. Concerns about privacy, accessibility, infection control and other issues will need to be addressed with the public.

Being online 

There remain important groups of people who can’t use the internet daily and don’t want to, notably older people, people with difficulty getting out of the house, and younger people in receipt of state benefits. A minority of them would be motivated to use digital functions if enabled to do so. 

Digital services that are most attractive to the respondents tend to imply a more responsive, two-way relationship with the services.

Preventing ill health 

People are most open to support with changing their lifestyle between the ages of 46 and 55. Any support aimed at helping people live healthier lifestyles should be tailored based on age and gender, as motivations differ. Interventions targeting younger people could have a big impact, given their high motivation to change their behaviour. Guidance on stress management and improved sleep could be impactful for people concerned about the health effects of their lifestyle. 

People facing the greatest poverty are more interested than other groups in getting more rest and quitting smoking. Busyness (including work-related busyness) is a barrier that gets in the way of people changing their lifestyles.

Findings from the children and young people’s and parents’ and carers’ surveys 

Parents and carers were supportive of having appointments in community settings but would like to know how noise would be managed. Parents and carers can struggle to manage multiple accounts for themselves and their children when accessing online services. 

Young people, parents, and carers named friends and family as the greatest source of health advice. They reported not always feeling truly listened to by health professionals. 

While schools have been an important source of mental health information for some young people, parents, and carers, over half reported not having received any guidance.

Desktop review

The review outlines eight principles that should serve as the foundation for any neighbourhood health service. The principles state that good community services are: 

• Shaped by the Three Cs: communication, compassion, coordination.
• Timely.
• Available.
• Geared up for complexity.
• Understanding of the role of the unpaid carer.
• Sensitive to people’s comfort with digital technology.
• Understanding of how other public services contribute to health and wellbeing.
• Compliant with the Accessible Information Standard.