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Why these are our priorities

Read in more detail about the population we serve and why we have selected these priorities.

Leicester city centre Leicester train stationLeicester is one of the most richly diverse, but disadvantaged, urban areas in the country, with some of the most complex health needs and biggest health inequalities in the UK.

Around 40% of our population are from black minority ethnic  backgrounds (compared with around 12% in England and 9% in the East Midlands) and this figure is growing. After the white population Leicester’s second largest ethnic group is South Asians (30%), predominantly of Indian descent.

We also have a youthful population with almost half aged under 29, and that number is increasing.

People in Leicester live, on average, two to three years less than the rest of the country. For those living in some disadvantaged parts of the city this figure is closer to six years. As a result, our increasing over 65 population suffers ill health and chronic disease earlier which means we have increasing numbers with chronic illnesses, and higher numbers suffering from depression, dementia, heart attacks and diabetes.

The major causes of ill health and premature death are cancer, circulatory and respiratory diseases. The latter two are also mainly responsible for the life expectancy gap within the city. Some of the major contributory factors include smoking, alcohol misuse, unhealthy diets and lack of physical exercise.

We have worked with local stakeholders; including partners, organisations, community groups, patients, carers and members of the public; to make sure our priorities take into account the unique health needs and profile of our population.

Our priorities are:

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