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Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Month

June 6, 2018

June is Gypsy, Roma and Traveller month.

The population we deliver care to across the Trust have a number of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities within them.

During the last census some 500 traveling families were identified as living in the area to access our health care provision.

This minority group within the general population experience a high level of prejudice and discrimination.

As such, we wanted to highlight some of the health care inequalities this group experience.

  • Studies show that Gypsy and Traveller women live 12 years less than women in the general population and men 10 years less, although recent research suggests the life expectancy gap could be much more
  • Research also shows that the health of Gypsies and Travellers starts to deteriorate markedly when individuals are over 50
  • 39 percent of Gypsies and Travellers have a long-term illness compared with 29 percent of age and sex matched comparators, even after controlling for socioeconomic status and other marginalised groups
  • Travellers are three times more likely to have chronic cough or bronchitis, even after smoking is taken into account
  • 22 percent of Gypsies and Travellers reported having asthma and 34% reported chest pain compared to 5 percent and 22 percent of the general population
  • Gypsies and Travellers are nearly three times more likely to be anxious than average and just over twice as likely to be depressed
  • Irish Travellers are three times as likely to die by suicide than the general population
  • There is an excess prevalence of miscarriages, stillbirths and neonatal deaths in Gypsy and Traveller communities and high rates of maternal death during pregnancy and shortly after childbirth
  • A high prevalence of diabetes has been reported in Gypsy and Traveller communities, and a lack of community knowledge of the risk factors.

There is a support service for this community that is facilitated by Rights and Equality Sandwell and Sandwell Council, who work in partnership the Sandwell CCG. The best route for colleagues to direct members of this community for support is to contact the Sandwell Independent Living Centre, 100 Oldbury Road, Smethwick, B66 1JE. They can also be called on 0121 569 5099.