A report published today by the Traveller Health Unit (THU) in the Eastern Region claims Travellers are treated very differently compared to settled people when they use health services.
The "Use of Hospital Facilities by the Traveller Community" report compared the experience of 56 adult Traveller patients and 66 children Traveller patients with the same number of settled adults and children attending Tallaght Hospital.
It found most Travellers were not referred for hospital treatment except through A&E; 70 per cent of Traveller patients accessed out-patient services through A&E as against 53 per cent of settled patients.
Some 60 per cent of Travellers were not given a follow-up appointment after being discharged from hospital compared to 23 per cent of settled people. Only 20 per cent of Traveller patients were referred from out-patient services to other clinical services compared to 71 per cent of settled patients.
The report also said settled children were more likely to receive a discharge letter than Traveller children.
Mr Martin Rogan, chairman of the THU, stressed the importance of involving Travellers in issues concerning their health. "By having genuine Traveller involvement we are able to provide invaluable support to health board staff and facilitate them in deciding how best to deliver their their service to the Traveller community."
Set up in 1998, the Eastern Region THU covers counties Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare, and accounts for almost a quarter of the total Traveller population.