New work by trust seeks to address health inequalities among Gypsies - Yorkshire

From the Telegraph and Argus

Gipsy and Traveller communities in Bradford are set to benefit from health care services – thanks to ground-breaking work being undertaken by an NHS trust.

While conducting research for her university course, Olwyn Lidster, community psychiatric nurse in Bradford District Care Trust’s substance misuse services, said she was horrified when she uncovered the truth about the discrimination Gypsy and Traveller communities face from society.

She set out to give them a voice and raise the trust’s profile in their communities where health problems sometimes go unaddressed until it is too late.

She said: “The number of Gypsies and Travellers who slip through the net because of their backgrounds is shocking.

“Because they don’t feel able to admit to society who they are and where they come from because of the discrimination they face, they live invisible lives.”

Even those who do seek professional help are often too afraid to disclose their backgrounds, or don’t have the skills required, such as reading or writing, to register with a GP.

Helping the trust understand more about this culture is Violet and her mother, Violet Senior, two members of the Gypsy community. Working closely with them, Miss Lidster and Bradford District Care Trust have built up a trust so they can begin to look at ways of meeting their health needs.

“Gypsy and Traveller communities are very private,” said Miss Lidster. “As a health care organisation we can’t just turn up and offer health checks or raise awareness of the health issues they may be facing – this has to be done from the inside, by those they trust.”

This is where the work with Violet and her mother is making progress. As community development workers within their communities they are able to raise awareness of important health messages, signpost to help and encourage people to talk about subjects that are usually considered taboo, such as substance misuse.

Violet said: “We have a long history of research which shows gipsy and traveller communities have stark health inequalities so it would be amazing if the trust took a national lead – doing some forward thinking and trying to find cost-effective ways to change these inequalities.

“In this current economic climate it’s easy to ignore the hard-to-reach but Bradford District Care Trust is not willing to let this happen in Bradford. I feel reinvigorated to work towards change.”

To help increase awareness of Gypsies and Travellers among NHS staff, the care trust is rolling out cultural competency training in services, facilitated by Violet and is hosting a seminar for staff to find out more about how the organisation can address the health needs of these communities.

Nicola Lees, chief operating officer and director of operations and nursing at the care trust, said: “Giving people in other communities a voice and clearing the pathway to our services is critical. This is just the beginning for gipsies and travellers in Bradford.”