Leeds Health and Social Care Hub launches
A new Leeds and Social Care Hub was launched on Tuesday 19 July.
It brings together the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and various local partners to improve health outcomes across the region. The Hub plans to create new opportunities for health and social care professionals in and around the city and provide a boost for the local economy.
The Hub will bring together a community of experts to improve healthcare in the region for patients. Members of the public, private, and third sector organisations, including NHS, local government, universities and other health organisations, will work to address challenges, including tackling health disparities and improving employment opportunities in the sector.
The Hub will ensure the DHSC’s principal offices in Leeds are embedded in the region’s growing health industry. Also, to continue the work to make Leeds a national and international hub for the healthcare industry.
The aim is to position Leeds as the natural choice for professionals looking to pursue a career in health and social care spanning local government and public and private organisations, as well as for start-ups seeking to establish or expand their base in the city. This will help to retain and develop talent, all while providing a boost to the local economy. It will also promote the health and social care sector as a career of choice for local residents and graduates so that workforces reflect the communities they serve.
As a partner for this Hub, Leeds and York Partnerships NHS Foundation Trust is excited to be taking this forward, working with local partners. Dr Sara Munro, the Trusts Chief Executive Officer, said:
“The hub brings together a diverse set of partners both locally and nationally that will be able to achieve so much more collectively.”
We will be working with Leeds City Council, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, NHS England, West Yorkshire Integrated care System, University of Leeds, Leeds Beckett University, Yorkshire and Humber Academic Health Science Network, Leeds Health and Care Academy, and Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust.
Health Minister Maria Caulfield said:
“The Leeds Health and Social Care Hub provides a welcome platform for us to forge closer and stronger working relationships with our partners in Leeds and the north of England.
“It will allow us to entice more talented health and care workers, as well as organisations, to the region, boosting both the local workforce and the economy.
“Together, we will work on a comprehensive vision to improve health and social care outcomes and come up with innovative solutions to tackle health disparities across the north of England.”
The Hub will act as a focal point for healthcare activity in the region, making Leeds the city of choice for organisations and businesses. For example, the new West Yorkshire Innovation hub has been set up to ensure residents can benefit from new innovations. It recently launched ten innovation schemes, including breast cancer surgery, cancer screening uptake in minority communities, and a special programme to support older people with cancer.
The project will focus on three main areas:
- People and Talent: Making the health sector in the region the employer of choice for many local people from all communities.
- Health and social care economy: Working together to develop Leeds as a location of choice for health and social care businesses, particularly innovative businesses and those in the digital health and medical technology sectors.
- Policy and collaboration: Bringing together the experience and insight of all partners to address health and care policy challenges with a focus on health disparities.
To find out more about the Leeds Health and Social Care Hub, the vision, ambition and approach, priority areas and how to get involved, please download the Publication.