Your Voice Counts: St Thomas Gypsy and Traveller Community

A recent outbreak of measles in the St Thomas' English Gypsy and Irish Traveller community, identified that many children were not vaccinated in June 2024, which led to intervention and children being vaccinated. During this process, it was noted that the Luton Gypsy and Traveller community had identified some concerns and barriers to accessing healthcare services. HWL was approached by Luton Borough Council (LBC) to engage with the community and gather their views on access to health and social care.

This report presents evidence gathered through informal interviews with individuals from the Gypsy and Traveller community. Information collected by Healthwatch Luton shows that the community mistrusts authorities and faces multiple barriers to accessing healthcare services. Healthwatch Luton worked with the Primary Care Network to improve cultural awareness, overcome these barriers, and identify how services can be developed to meet the needs of this community. 

The feedback from the Gypsy and Traveller community in St. Thomas' highlighted both positive and negative experiences with healthcare services.

• Positive Experiences: Some residents reported satisfactory care, particularly in cancer treatment and general GP access, underscoring the potential for positive outcomes when services are reliable.
• Access Issues: A recurring issue was difficulty in securing timely appointments. Many residents faced repeated failures in booking appointments, leading to delays in treatment and increased stress.
• Communication Failures: Poor communication and appointment mismanagement were significant concerns. Issues included incorrect scheduling, lost test results, and delays in prescriptions, creating confusion and frustration.
• Lack of Trust: A widespread lack of trust in healthcare providers emerged, driven by misdiagnosis, delayed diagnoses, and inconsistent care, particularly concerning serious conditions like cancer.
• Discrimination: Several residents reported discriminatory treatment from reception staff, exacerbating feelings of marginalisation and making it harder to access services.
• Mental Health and Anxiety: Anxiety around healthcare and fear of misdiagnosis were common, worsened by personal and family experiences with late diagnoses and poor outcomes. Mental health concerns, especially among young people, highlighted the need for targeted support.