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<p>During 2019 all local health systems will be expected to set out how they will
reduce health inequalities by 2023/24 and 2028/29 including, where applicable, for
Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) communities.</p><p>We are reviewing the collection
of data within the National Health Service and working closely with NHS England to
complete a scoping exercise to understand how information on protected characteristics
is gathered in existing NHS datasets. The Department plans to complete an initial
assessment later this year, which will form the basis for future decision-making on
NHS data collection by ethnicity.</p><p>NHS England has produced guidance for general
practices clarifying rights of patients and responsibilities of providers in registering
with a general practitioner. It also co-produced a leaflet for members of the GRT
communities on how to register. These will be kept under review.</p><p>The Department
of Health and Social Care is also working closely with the Ministry for Housing, Communities
and Local Government and the Department for Education on six community-led pilot projects,
two of which are looking to improve health outcomes for GRT communities.</p><p>The
Government commissioned research from the universities of Dundee and York examining
how trust in healthcare services could be enhanced amongst Gypsy, Roma and Traveller
communities. The report, <em>Enhancing Gypsy, Roma and Traveller peoples’ trust: using
maternity and early years’ health services and dental health services as exemplars
of mainstream service provision</em>, was published in September 2018. It has made
eight key recommendations to the health sector and other key providers, which include
increasing collaborative working with those that already have trusted relationships
with GRT communities e.g. individuals from third sector organisations, individual
health or other sector professionals; and suggested the introduction of literacy help-cards
throughout the NHS. These are cards that can be presented to front line staff or receptionists
to ask for discreet help with form-filling. A copy of the report is attached.</p>
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