PREFERENTIAL MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR GYPSIES

Recently released Government plans could see the introduction of new requirements for the West Essex Primary Care Trust to provide preferential medical treatment to Gypsies and Travellers in the Epping Forest district.

Epping Forest MP, Eleanor Laing has written to the Secretary of State for Health, Rt. Hon. Andy Burnham MP, following the publication of guidelines to NHS practitioners, stating: "There is already considerable pressure on GPs and my local hospital as well as a severe shortage of dentists in the Epping Forest district. In addition the Government is ordering Epping Forest district to provide 39 new pitches for gypsies and travellers between now and 2011. Indeed, the district is required to provide more sites (44.7 per 1,000 new dwellings) in relation to new dwellings than any other local authority in the East of England. This disproportionate requirement would have put impossible pressure on the infrastructure of the area even before the publication of today’s guidelines. On average there are two caravans per pitch, which could amount to up to 500 gypsies and travellers moving into Epping Forest district, all of whom would have preferential access to local health services under these new guidelines. This would create an unbearable strain on local amenities which are already struggling to cope with the everyday needs of my constituents."

Mrs Laing has also asked Mr Burnham to confirm what additional resources will be made available to the district's health services to enable them to carry out the extra statutory responsibilities being imposed on them and stated: "We all agree that gypsies and travellers must be treated equally in accessing NHS services, but attempts to create a balanced and integrated society, including within it gypsies and travellers, will be damaged if local people see their own families suffer as a result of the Government giving priority to gypsies and travellers." A full copy of the letter is available here.

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