Traveller Primary Healthcare
About this good practice
Traveller Primary Healthcare projects are aimed at improving the health outcomes for members of the Traveller Community.
Members of the Irish Traveller Community face severe health inequalities arising from the social determinants of health, and the obstacles that they face in accessing healthcare services.
The project employs members of the Traveller community as peer health workers, the peer health workers work with health services to co-design health information in culturally appropriate ways and work as a team to deliver this information to members of the Traveller Community as well as organising education programmes, events and meetings aimed at promoting practical healthcare initiatives and information.
Traveller Primary Healthcare projects are innovative as they involve members of the community in the intended solution, the peer methodology ensures that responses are culturally appropriate are the primary source of health information, often the only source for members of the Irish Traveller Community. The project bridges the gap between the Traveller Community who are facing high inequalities and the Irish Health Service (HSE) who are unable to reach and engage in a culturally appropriate manner.
Resources needed
• €200, 000 per annum to cover staff costs, management & administration, overheads and
programme costs
• Steering group support
Evidence of success
As the project was only established in East Limerick in 2023 there isn’t evidence for the success, however nationally there is a number of examples of evidence for success.
The clearest evidence for success of these projects is the replication across the country (Ireland). Link to a review of Travellers Health using Primary Care as a model of good practice. http://paveepoint.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/PrimaryHealthCare05.pdf
The East Limerick project will undergo an initial review in 2026.
Potential for learning or transfer
Utilising a peer methodology to delivering health information to members of the
Traveller Community places Travellers at the centre of delivery, the co-production
and partnership approach allows health information to be developed based on the
Traveller community’s own values and perceptions.
Further information
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.