News & Latest — 11.10.2021

Right to Health for Gypsies, Travellers, Roma and Showmen families in the East of England

Learn new findings in a recent report and community insight video from Petr Torak MBE, CEO of COMPAS charity

Since Autumn 2020, Inclusive Involvement in Research for Practice Led Health and Social Care theme at the University of Essex have been engaging with Gypsies, Roma, Travellers and Showmen families in the East of England and concerns reported by these communities around issues with access to health care.

The project aims to understand the barriers to accessing healthcare for the GRT community and, through co-production with community members and healthcare providers, identify how barriers might be resolved. Gypsies and Travellers Essex, Compas and Oblique Arts Traveller Advocacy project, Public Health at Cambridgeshire Council, and the members of the IIRP theme at the University of Essex worked together to consult with more than 80 community members.

Their extensive engagement has revealed that many people in Travelling Communities continue to experience significant health needs and barriers to accessing health care. Access to health care is problematised by a range of factors. There is a sense of fear and distrust in the system, and until more inclusive modes of communication are routinely offered, members of these (and other) communities are likely to miss invitations to health checks, immunisations and outpatient appointments.

The report concludes that the continuing barriers to accessing health care would be best addressed through co-design, co-implementation and co-evaluation of interventions. Access the full report.

“We should all be able to access the healthcare and medical treatment we need. However, Gypsies, Roma and Travellers have more health problems than most and difficulty accessing appropriate care. We think research can help this to change.”

Prof Ewen Speed, Prof Gill Green and Sally Burrows at the School of Health and Social Care, University of Essex

Community Insight:

Petr Torak MBE, CEO of COMPAS Charity, describes concerns reported by Czech, Slovak and Romanian Roma communities in Peterborough around access to health care

COMPAS charity worked in cooperation with Essex University, conducting community research within the Czech, Slovak and Romanian Roma communities around access to health care. Watch the community insight video below.

 

“The GP registration is a problem… for the Romanian Roma community, especially for those that have newly arrived into the UK.”

Petr Torak, CEO of MBE COMPAS charity

  • Watch our community insight here to hear from Petr Torak MBE, CEO of COMPAS charity, describe concerns reported by Czech, Slovak and Romanian Roma communities in Peterborough around access to health care.