FFT assisted in the production of “The Health Status of Gypsy Travellers in England: A report to the Department of Health, 2004 by the University of Sheffield. The report found that:
- Health problems amongst Gypsy Travellers are between two and five times more common than the settled community
- Gypsy Travellers are more likely to be anxious, have breathing problems (including asthma and bronchitis) and chest pain. They are also more likely to suffer from miscarriages, still births, the death of young babies and older children.
- Gypsy Traveller women are twice as likely to be anxious than Gypsy Traveller men.
The report also looks at the use of health services and Gypsies and Travellers attitudes, beliefs and experiences of health and the health service. In it, Gypsies and Travellers talk about their experience of:
- Discrimination and bad communication with, and ignorance about, Gypsies and Travellers within the healthcare system. The report recognises the value of doctors and health workers who understand Gypsy and Traveller culture.
- Traveller attitudes to health, including a traditional belief in relying on yourself or family, suspicion of health services, and the belief that treatment will not be effective.
- The effect of the lack of access to education and decent accommodation has on Gypsy and Traveller Health
The report makes key recommendations aimed at improving Gypsy and Traveller health, and is intended to be a useful tool for the community to improve its access o the healthcare system. The report also identifies ways in which the health service can improve service delivery to the Gypsy and Traveller community:
- Improving access to health services
- Partnership between Gypsy and Travellers and health worker
- Employing specialist Gypsy and Traveller health workers
- Training of health service staff to fight ignorance and prejudice.
- The need for Gypsies and Travellers to identifies in ethnic monitoring.
- Increasing GP registration.
The report is available is available online:
The report is also available in audio form on a CD for those in the community who cannot read and write. The written and CD version of the report are available from:
The University of Sheffield
School of Health and Related Research
Regent Street
Sheffield
S1 4DA
Tel: 0114 22 0817
Email:
