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Travellers’ access to health care is ‘tenuous’

Britain’s travellers—whether ‘traditional’ Gypsies or ‘new age’ travellers—suffer serious health problems, yet are often unable to access NHS care and other welfare services, according to research undertaken at Bristol University’s school for policy studies.

Travellers have higher rates of perinatal and infant mortality than others, with traveller children between one and a half and two times more likely to die in the first year of life than children of settled families.

In addition, travellers suffer higher rates of infectious disease, alcoholism, mental illness and cardiovascular disease, together with high levels of accidental injury.

Yet until recently there have been few attempts to ensure health services ar accessible to travelling families and their children, says the author of the research, Dr Derek Hawes. In addition, in heightening the sense of confrontation between local authorities and travellers and decreasing the availability of legal stopping places, the 1994 Criminal Justice Act has introduced further barring to care.

Delivering health and welfare services to travellers. School for Policy Studies: 0117 974 1117