New leaders join Leeds Partnership board

Leeds Academic Health Partnership, one of the UK’s largest and most diverse health and care research initiatives, has welcomed new city leaders to its board.

Ed Whiting, chief executive of Leeds City Council, and Professor Shearer West, vice-chancellor of the University of Leeds, are the latest additions to the board as the partnership enters its tenth year.

Professor West said: “Our University’s health research excellence and impact is internationally renowned, so I’m delighted to have this opportunity to shape our support and impact right here in Leeds. 

“This Partnership provides the ideal vehicle to ensure our focus on disease prevention and early, effective treatments of ill health also aligns with and responds to the city’s most pressing health needs.”

Ed added: “I welcome the opportunity to join this Partnership board as part of our city’s ‘Team Leeds’ approach to transforming health and care, especially for those most in need. 

“As a city and a local authority, our commitment to inclusive growth underscores the important and complex link between health and wealth. 

“This diverse Partnership provides the ideal forum for us to embrace that complexity and harness the city’s and region’s outstanding strengths to improve our population’s health and wellbeing.”

The Partnership brings together expertise from a range of organisations to address the city’s health challenges and inequalities through research and innovation. 

Key achievements include the launch of the Leeds Health and Care Academy, the West Yorkshire Healthtech Cluster, and securing £7 million in funding for cancer diagnostics and personalised medicine.

Also joining the board are Laura Squire, chief executive of St Gemma’s Hospice, Kathy Scott from Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber, Magnus Harrison from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, and Felix Kumi-Ampofo from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Phil Wood, chair of the Partnership board and chief executive of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Professor, added: “On behalf of the board, I welcome our new members. 

“As the Partnership enters its tenth year, it’s testament to the city’s strong culture of cross-sector collaboration where partners share a common goal to advance health and care for all and help make Leeds a top city in which to live and work.”  

Looking to promote your product/service to SME businesses in your region? Find out how Bdaily can help →