ITMB publish new report on the Inclusion and ethnic monitoring of Gypsies and Travellers in the National Health Service

From the Irish Travellers Movement In Britain

Despite a lack of national data on the health status of Gypsies and Travellers, studies have revealed their health outcomes to be much poorer than the general population and also poorer than others in socially deprived areas. A 2012 report by the Ministerial Working Group on tackling inequalities experienced by Gypsies and Travellers confirmed that they have the lowest life expectancy of any group in the UK and continue to experience high infant mortality rates, high maternal mortality rates, low child immunisation levels, mental health issues, substance misuse issues and diabetes.

The aim of this research (carried out by ITMB) is to establish how many Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in England conduct ethnic monitoring of Gypsies and Travellers and how aware and inclusive they are of Gypsies and Travellers health needs.

Read the full report here