Health and Support Needs

Meeting the Health & Support Needs of Minority Ethnic Populations – The Irish Experience : 

1 Meeting the Health & Support Needs of Minority Ethnic Populations – The Irish Experience Diane Nurse Alice O’ Flynn June 2006

A Changing Irish Society : 

2 A Changing Irish Society Formerly a society characterised by emigration 2002 Census: 3.917m people 750,000 newcomers from 211 countries since 2000 9% of the workforce and 10% of population foreign born Approximately 167 languages spoken Immigration accounted for half of overall increase of 92,000 or 4.7% of the labour force in 2005 Forecast that by 2020, almost 1 in 5 – almost 1m people will be migrants. Total population to reach 6m by 2050

Minority Ethnic Communities in Ireland : 

3 Minority Ethnic Communities in Ireland Concepts of ethnicity – “an ethnic group is a cultural community, often defined by a common history, language and traditions”… “a long shared history of which the group is conscious as distinguishing it from other groups, and the memory of which it keeps alive….and a cultural tradition of it’s own” Self Identification a critical element Minority Ethnic Groups in Ireland – Asylum Seekers & Refugees 2002 11, 634 applications 2005 4, 323 applications 2006 1,156 applications (Jan to end of March)

Minority Ethnic Communities in Ireland (cont) : 

4 Minority Ethnic Communities in Ireland (cont) Migrant Workers – often a very vulnerable group fastest growing of which are new EU member states Travellers – an Irish ethnic minority, socially excluded with lower health status and outcomes than settled population Heterogeneity contributes to a rich mix of diversity, but also creates challenges for health services in responding to the unique and diverse needs of different groups

Health Service Executive : 

5 Health Service Executive Hse.ie “Responsible for providing health and personal social services to everyone living in the Republic of Ireland…use resources available…to improve, promote and protect the health and welfare of the public…” Plan, design and deliver health and support services to population Reform process almost completed New structures and way of working creates new opportunities, including active involvement of service users around service planning & delivery and improved integration across different pillars of the health system

Changing Approaches : 

6 Changing Approaches Equality Dimension – progression of a multi-ground approach to equality, covering both employment equality and equality in the provision of services Equal Status Acts play important role in improving access to health care Services should be provided in ways that are responsive to and understanding of diversity of the community to whom and with whom services are provided Integration V Assimilation – acknowledgement of cultural diversity and it’s implications for service delivery Acknowledgement of links between poverty and Social Exclusion – National Anti Poverty Strategy

Characteristics of Successful Interventions : 

7 Characteristics of Successful Interventions Partnership Approach Evidence Based Best Practice Peer Led Programmes Empowerment of Participants Ongoing Evaluation Respect for culture, skills, knowledge, unique needs

Partnership Approach : 

8 Partnership Approach With Non Governmental Organisations … in touch with needs of minority ethnic groups and often best placed to deliver specific services on behalf of governmental services Central role in empowering, supporting and building capacity of persons from minority ethnic groups Across Groups – National Anti Poverty Strategy Inter-Departmental Working Group on Resettlement of Refugees

Evidence Based Practice : 

9 Evidence Based Practice Role of data in achieving equality, measuring needs, identifying priorities & evaluating effectiveness of interventions Ethnic Identifier Ongoing evaluation Peer Led Programmes – Health Information & Traveller Primary Health Care Projects

Empowerment of Participants : 

10 Empowerment of Participants Regional Health Strategy for Ethnic Minorities Traveller Health Units CAIRDE (New Communities Partnership) a national network of 25 minority ethnic led organisations with objectives of supporting their communities through strategic alliances with other ethnic groups Building capacity of minority ethnic groups Primary Care Needs Assessment Project You can make a difference project – Ethnic Minority Communities & HIV in Ireland

Regional Health Strategy for Ethnic Minorities : 

11 Regional Health Strategy for Ethnic Minorities

Respect for culture, skills, knowledge, unique needs : 

12 Respect for culture, skills, knowledge, unique needs Migrant Friendly Hospital Project- development of interventions around interpreting services, provision of migrant friendly information and training for mother and child care, and staff training towards cultural competence ….www.mfh-eu.net Interfacing with interest groups Staff Learning, Training & Support Groups

Insert Photo of Faith Seminar : 

13 Insert Photo of Faith Seminar

Conclusions : 

14 Conclusions “A man’s homeland is wherever he prospers” Aristophanes (450-388B.C.) “ We have to become the change we want to see” Mahatma Gandhi Contact details: diane.nurse@mailf.hse.ie /alice.oflynn@mailf.hse.ie