Already struggling with your New Year’s resolutions? Don’t panic as an exciting new programme will be launched at the White Rose Centre on Saturday 28 January to help you make the changes to your lifestyle that you promised you would make.

Leeds Let’s Change, which has been developed by the NHS in Leeds with a range of partners including Leeds City Council and a number of voluntary and community groups, will make it easier for local people to access healthy living advice and support through a single website. This will soon be backed up by a dedicated telephone support service.

To mark the start of the initiative, and to help people make a long-term commitment to improving their lifestyles, the first 10,000 people signing up to the website will receive a free voucher booklet. The booklet will give them discounts for a range of activities all designed to improve their lifestyles, helping people look better, feel better while having fun.

By visiting www.leedsletschange.co.uk people can find out how they could use free services, run by the NHS or its partners, to:

• eat healthier;
• be active;
• lose weight;
• drink responsibly; or
• quit smoking.

The website also provides simple tips to show how people can make small changes in their lifestyles which will have a positive impact on their health and wellbeing.

Dr Ian Cameron, Director of Public Health for Leeds, says: “Leeds Let’s Change is a fantastic way of helping people in Leeds, including health and social care professionals and community groups, to access advice and support from a single website. The services listed on www.leedsletschange.co.uk are either provided or commissioned by the NHS in Leeds or its partners including Leeds City Council. This means that people will be able to access the majority of these services free of charge and with the confidence that they are proven to help you make long-term changes to your lifestyle.”

Dr Greg Reynolds, Clinical Director for Cardiology for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, adds: “A large number of the patients we see could have taken simple steps which would have prevented them from developing serious health problems. Leeds Let’s Change helps people to access simple but effective advice and support which I hope will help them stay healthy for longer. I’m delighted to show my support for Leeds Let’s Change and look forward to promoting the campaign to staff and patients at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.”  

Leeds Let’s Change has been developed by NHS Airedale, Bradford and Leeds with the support of Leeds City Council, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust, Leeds Partnerships NHS Foundation Trust and voluntary and community groups from across the city.

As well as the launch at the White Rose Centre, Leeds Let’s Change will be promoted at a number of community venues in the city further details are available by visiting www.leedsletschange.co.uk.

Notes

Please find below case studies from people using some of the healthy living services that feature on Leeds Let’s Change. 

Case study one: Lily Woods who received support through the Leeds NHS Stop Smoking Service to quit smoking

Lily Woods, 54 from Seacroft began smoking from the age of 11 but her father’s death from lung cancer was just one of the reasons why she was keen to quit.

She attended a one to one clinic at Seacroft Hospital and found both the support and encouragement from her stop smoking advisor and using a stop smoking treatment invaluable. Unfortunately the temptation to smoke again got the better of her and 12 months after quitting she went on a holiday with friends who smoked and began smoking again.

“I felt really disappointed with myself after been stopped for a year but I didn’t give up as I knew how much better I’d felt whilst not smoking.”

Lily was welcomed back to the stop smoking clinic where she was able to discuss coping strategies for difficult situations. It has now been three years since she quit smoking and she feels confident that she will never go back to smoking.

“To begin with it was a struggle but now I’m never even tempted, even in a room full of smokers.”

Lily is keen to encourage others to give it a go: “Stopping smoking is the best thing I’ve ever done. I feel so much healthier. I’m sleeping better, my sense of taste and smell have improved and I’m not having to wash my clothes every 5 minutes because of the smell!”

“I gained a bit of weight but went on to lose it again within 6 months. I told myself that I can soon get weight off but if I get cancer then I may not be able to get rid of that”.

She is also feeling the financial benefits of not smoking and has enjoyed having extra money to spend on new clothes and treats. Lily would advise anyone thinking of stopping smoking to attend a stop smoking clinic rather than going it alone.

Case study two: Angela Deane who used Addiction Dependency Solutions (ADS) to help fight her addiction to alcohol

“I can’t believe I’m still alive!” That’s the first thing Angela says as she reflects on her battle with alcohol.

Angela started to develop a drink problem in her 20s shortly after the birth of her child. With her relationship hitting a rocky patch and her partner not working, Angela became the main breadwinner for the family. It was at this point she started drinking heavily.

She continued to drink heavily until an alcohol-related near death experience in 2010 convinced her that she had an addiction and needed support. Looking back Angela vividly remembers being told that she only had a couple of hours to live by a hospital consultant.

After leaving hospital she spoke to her GP who advised her to get in touch with Addiction Dependency Solutions (ADS). Initially she needed intense support to help her on the road to recovery now she only attends a SMART self help group rehabilitation session once a week. As a result of the support from ADS she has not had a drink since 27 July 2010.

Angela comments: “I feel so happy to be alive and I can do anything I want now except drink, this is the first time I’ve felt this happy in a long time. While I was in rehab I found out my brother had hung himself, meaning I had lost a second brother – one died when I was younger. I could have walked out of rehab and turned back to drink but I convinced myself that it was not worth it. I’m making the most of my second chance and now want to do some voluntary work to help others.”

Case study three: A local man (anonymised) who attended the 10% weight management club at John Charles Sports Centre

“I'm a man in my late 30s now... and very obese. When I first looked at the 10% course I was nearly 29 stone or 185Kg. My weight was affecting me in my day to day life - out of breath going up stairs, pain in my joints, just not fitting into chairs or seats, having to buy clothes from specialist shops. My wife was worried about my health, and if I wasn't careful, I'd probably be heading for a heart attack or some other related illness.

“Over the eight week course, each of the sessions covered an aspect relating to weight management.  The sessions are easy to understand, provided in a friendly, informal and supportive manner.  I applied some of the lessons from the course.  None of these changes were really difficult. They're all small, easy things to modify, tiny changes to my lifestyle. None of them on their own would make a dramatic change to my life. But together, they add up to a powerful and dramatic force that has shown good results.

“At the end of the first 8 week course, I'd lost over 1st 3lb or 8kg. Eight weeks after the course, I was down by 2st 6lb or 16kg - having nearly lost my 10% bodyweight goal.

“If you do want to make changes, then this course will help you to do that, and the 10% team will be there to help you, support you, guide and encourage you.  And with a bit of perseverance and effort, you can be on your way to a happier, healthier and better life.”