Social Challenge Reducing health inequalities through improving the health behaviours of Migrant Worker Communities

Collaborators NHS Mid Essex, various workplaces in Essex, Migrant Worker Communities

Before Mid Essex had high levels of Migrant Workers who were not accessing or using local health services appropriately. This was impacting on the health of individuals from these communities and adding to the strain on local health resources. There was limited information on the health and lifestyle behaviours of this group due to cultural and language barriers and difficulties in locating and accessing communities.

ApproachWe helped NHS Mid Essex understand the behaviours and needs of Migrant Worker communities in Mid Essex using a range of methods including a Touring Café which visited workplaces employing Migrant Workers.

We identified four distinct groups of Migrant workers who shared similar behaviours. We hosted a co-design event to generate ideas on how to make improvements for these groups.

Methods: Touring Café, Focus Groups, In-depth Interviews, Co-design Workshop

Change and Success- Over 150 migrant workers were involved in the project
- Changes in language translation procedure have been introduced
- Findings and recommendations are to be presented to commissioners in October. Updates to follow.

Find out more:
Visit the Migrant Workers Health and Wellbeing blog
Watch a highlight film about the project on Youtube
See more project photos on Flickr