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Lincolnshire’s migrant workers “putting health at risk by adopting local lifestyle choices” (26 March 2014)

Date: 26/03/2014
Duncan Lewis, Immigration Solicitors, Lincolnshire’s migrant workers “putting health at risk by adopting local lifestyle choices”

Lincolnshire’s director of public health Dr Tony Hill is warning that migrant workers who arrive in the area “fit and healthy” are damaging their health by adopting the bad habits of local residents, including smoking and eating junk food.

Dr Hill told the Grimsby Telegraph that research for his annual report has revealed that migrants in Lincolnshire are unlikely to take up a “disproportionate” share of healthcare services in the county – Dr Hill found that most of the migrants had come to Lincolnshire to work and were “fit and healthy” when they arrived. He added that the health of migrants may deteriorate the longer they stay in their host country due to a combination of changes brought about by migration and adopting local lifestyle choices detrimental to health.

Dr Hill said:

“This can be due to a number of reasons, including taking on some of the poorer lifestyle behaviours of the indigenous population where these exist – lower exercise and outdoor activity, alcohol use, smoking, poor eating habits, for example, and a combination of changes brought about by their migration.

"For example, migrant workers from A8 countries frequently live in privately-rented flats or houses, many of which are multiple occupancy and of poor quality. This can tend towards overcrowding, lack of cooking and heating facilities, and property that is badly maintained and/or damp.

"It is important that we continue to engage with all residents to provide them with early and preventative care – best both for the patient and the healthcare service."

Lincolnshire is one area which has come to depend on migrant workers - especially from Poland – because of its agricultural industries.

Migrant workers not only accept low wages, they also tend to work long hours in manual jobs – and their strong work has been praised by industry bosses, including Ocado boss Sir Stuart Rose.

Earlier this year Lincolnshire County Council leader Martin Hill backed government proposals to impose a three-month qualifying period before new migrants to the UK could apply for benefits such as Jobseeker’s Allowance and housing benefit.

In January – shortly after border restrictions had been lifted on Bulgaria and Romania – Councillor Hill told the Lincolnshire Echo:

“This seems a sensible step – while migrant workers make an important contribution to our economy, it's vital we don't let people take unfair advantage of the system. These proposals should help strike the right balance.”

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