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"result": {"data":{"wpPost":{"title":"October 2026: Better Data, Better Health: Why Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Communities Must Be Counted","content":null,"uri":"/news/october-2026-better-data-better-health-why-gypsy-roma-and-traveller-communities-must-be-counted/","id":"cG9zdDoxMDM2Nw==","date":"13 Oct 2026","author":{"node":{"name":"Sabrina"}},"flexLayouts":{"pageLayouts":[{"__typename":"WpPost_Flexlayouts_PageLayouts_PostHeader","postTitle":"October 2026: Better Data, Better Health: Why Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Communities Must Be Counted","blurb":"Health inequalities affecting Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Traveller communities have been well documented for many years. Yet too often these communities remain invisible in health datasets, making it harder for health professionals, commissioners and policymakers to understand needs, target resources effectively and measure progress.","image":{"altText":"Traveller Movement Health and Social Care banner","sourceUrl":"https://wp-main.travellermovement.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/shutterstock_1069550111-scaled.jpg","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"constrained","placeholder":{"fallback":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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"},"images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/22d38b19443601f5692f3d13665a8855/875a2/shutterstock_1069550111-scaled.jpg","srcSet":"/static/22d38b19443601f5692f3d13665a8855/70c23/shutterstock_1069550111-scaled.jpg 267w,\n/static/22d38b19443601f5692f3d13665a8855/48ea6/shutterstock_1069550111-scaled.jpg 534w,\n/static/22d38b19443601f5692f3d13665a8855/875a2/shutterstock_1069550111-scaled.jpg 1068w,\n/static/22d38b19443601f5692f3d13665a8855/30e4c/shutterstock_1069550111-scaled.jpg 2136w","sizes":"(min-width: 1068px) 1068px, 100vw"},"sources":[{"srcSet":"/static/22d38b19443601f5692f3d13665a8855/62694/shutterstock_1069550111-scaled.avif 267w,\n/static/22d38b19443601f5692f3d13665a8855/ab93d/shutterstock_1069550111-scaled.avif 534w,\n/static/22d38b19443601f5692f3d13665a8855/0a690/shutterstock_1069550111-scaled.avif 1068w,\n/static/22d38b19443601f5692f3d13665a8855/47313/shutterstock_1069550111-scaled.avif 2136w","type":"image/avif","sizes":"(min-width: 1068px) 1068px, 100vw"},{"srcSet":"/static/22d38b19443601f5692f3d13665a8855/a088a/shutterstock_1069550111-scaled.webp 267w,\n/static/22d38b19443601f5692f3d13665a8855/391db/shutterstock_1069550111-scaled.webp 534w,\n/static/22d38b19443601f5692f3d13665a8855/ab9d8/shutterstock_1069550111-scaled.webp 1068w,\n/static/22d38b19443601f5692f3d13665a8855/2546f/shutterstock_1069550111-scaled.webp 2136w","type":"image/webp","sizes":"(min-width: 1068px) 1068px, 100vw"}]},"width":1068,"height":356}}}}},{"__typename":"WpPost_Flexlayouts_PageLayouts_PlainText","heading":null,"text":"Health inequalities affecting Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Traveller communities have been well documented for many years. Yet too often these communities remain invisible in health datasets, making it harder for health professionals, commissioners and policymakers to understand needs, target resources effectively and measure progress.
\n\nIn October 2026, the Traveller Movement partnered with the London Borough of Brent to write to the Chief Medical Officer calling for a more consistent and disaggregated approach to ethnicity data collection across the health system. The letter highlights the need for health bodies, including the NHS, public health agencies and policymakers, to record Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Traveller identities separately rather than grouping communities together or omitting them altogether.
\n\nBetter data means better evidence. Better evidence leads to better policy, more effective services and greater accountability for tackling long-standing health inequalities.
\n\nAccurate and consistent ethnicity recording is not simply a technical issue. It is a crucial step towards ensuring that Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities are visible in decision-making and receive the attention their health outcomes demand.
\n\nYou can read the full letter
here