Public Health and Health Promotion
 

Travellers Health

The West of England Strategic Partnership for Travellers Health and Wellbeing is a multi-agency partnership between the NHS and Local authorities in Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Bath and North East Somerset.

The poor health outcomes of Gypsies, Roma and Travellers have been recognised nationally. Research from the 1987 Health Status study in Ireland showed that Traveller women tend to live 12 years less than settled women and Traveller men live 10 years less than settled men. However, recent research in Leeds indicates that in England the life expectancy gap may be as high as 25 years, with an average life expectancy of about 50 years

The priority for the partnership is to provide leadership in the development of equitable, high quality safe and effective services. During 2011 priorities for the group are:

• The development of a quality assurance framework to support commissioners and service providers

• Progress in child health and wellbeing services

• A detailed report of local services across the West of England which address the needs of Gypsy, Roma and Travellers

Key documents:

West of England Strategic Partnership for Travellers’ Health and Wellbeing
      Annual Report 2010/11

Cultural Awareness Resources for Travellers Health and Wellbeing

Quality Standards and Assurance Framework

The chair of The West of England strategic Partnership for Travellers Health and Wellbeing is: Becky Pollard: Director of Public Health, NHS North Somerset.

For further details please contact Jan Bond: jan.bond@nsomerset-pct.nhs.uk