A Sense of Injustice: Experiences of the Central and Eastern European Roma in Accessing UK Health and Public Services
Published on 1 January, 2019.
This study explores how Central and Eastern European Roma communities perceive and experience UK health and public services. The Roma arguably experience poorer health than any other minority ethnic group in the UK, according to a range of indicators, measures and outcomes. Health issues in UK Roma communities are reported to stem from language barriers, difficulties in registering with a GP and mistrust of health professionals. To date, there has been little comprehensive exploration of the influence of social, cultural and political factors on health in Central and Eastern European Roma communities in the UK. Much of the literature provides an overview of barriers to access, yet gives limited attention to the complex social dynamics underlying interactions between the Roma and health service providers. This study investigates the interplay of Roma migration experiences, personal histories of discrimination, barriers to accessing health and benefits systems, and the influence of public policy decisions in shaping UK Roma people’s experiences of health services.