NHS Leeds has officially unveiled its new look website this week and is offering a free gift to the first 1,000 people signing up to the My NHS Leeds section on the site.

The health trust, which is responsible for planning and funding healthcare services for people living in Leeds, has launched the new interactive site as a direct response to feedback from local people. It now offers a one-stop site providing important information on local health services, advice on healthy living and an opportunity to get directly involved with the NHS.

People using the site can start the process to register with an NHS dentist in the city. They can also search for local healthcare services available to them, pick up medical advice that is delivered directly from the national NHS Choices website and watch the latest health videos. Users can also complete online application forms to join the health trust’s involvement network or sign up to Jamie Oliver’s Ministry of Food in Leeds.

As a direct response to feedback from local people, NHS Leeds has developed a password-protected personal space on the site called ‘My NHS Leeds’. It is the first time a health trust has set up a personalised space on its own website.

This allows site users to register to receive information on topics that are of most interest to them. For example they could choose to receive information on the latest consultations or find out more about urgent and emergency care services in the city. The website also has another first for a primary care trust website - a fully customisable homepage.

Web users with accessibility issues have a number of options available to them so that they can pick up the information they need. The options include a Browsealoud reader that reads out text, the ability to change the colour schemes on the site and to view the site in text only format.

Alastair Cartwright, Chief Information Officer for NHS Leeds, says: “We are delighted to be able to unveil our new website to local people. We have listened carefully to the feedback raised about our previous website. We hope that our new fully customisable site will make it easier for people to find the information they need on local healthcare services. It will also make it easier for local people to get involved with our work and take part in the decision making process for healthcare services in the city.

“It gives us great pleasure to be able to deliver a website that allows users to personalise it to their needs. It is the first time we are aware of this being possible on a primary care trust’s website. In particular, the My NHS Leeds section gives people the chance to get the latest news and information on topics that are of particular interest to them. We look forward to people registering with the site. We will continue to listen to the feedback of local people and ensure that the site remains a valuable resource.”

The new NHS Leeds website address is: www.leeds.nhs.uk. To register to the My NHS Leeds section you need to click on either the ‘My NHS Leeds’ or ‘become a member’ option on the top right corner of the site. NHS Leeds would like to hear the thoughts of local people on the new look website – please email your comments to communications.team@nhsleeds.nhs.uk.