Proposed research study into the age at death and cause of death in Gypsies & Travellers

Abstract

This study will identify the age of death and the major causes of death in Gypsies and Travellers. Reliable information as to the causes of death in this population is not available. This study will provide very valuable data to those working with Gypsies and Travellers, and to the community itself, as to the predominant causes of death. This will then be used to strategically design healthcare interventions. Gypsies and Travellers have poor health status and low life expectancy compared to other English-speaking minority ethnic groups. To inform healthcare service provision and interventions it is important to accurately identify the prevalent causes of death in this population and which causes differ from the general population. Gypsy or Traveller ethnic status is generally not collected on NHS systems and ethnicity is not recorded at death; therefore age and cause of death cannot be accurately determined in this community. This study will link ethnicity and cause of death data. An appropriate funding source is currently being sought