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EU referendum: Brexit 'could damage NHS', health boss warns EU referendum: Brexit 'could damage NHS', health boss warns
(35 minutes later)
Leaving the EU could damage the NHS if it puts the economy at risk, its chief executive Simon Stevens has warned.Leaving the EU could damage the NHS if it puts the economy at risk, its chief executive Simon Stevens has warned.
He said he took "very seriously" warnings of possible recession in the event of Brexit, adding that would be "very dangerous" for the service.He said he took "very seriously" warnings of possible recession in the event of Brexit, adding that would be "very dangerous" for the service.
"When the British economy sneezes, the NHS catches a cold," he said, adding it would be a "terrible moment" at a time when the NHS needed extra investment."When the British economy sneezes, the NHS catches a cold," he said, adding it would be a "terrible moment" at a time when the NHS needed extra investment.
The Leave camp says a Remain vote would have "huge consequences for the NHS".The Leave camp says a Remain vote would have "huge consequences for the NHS".
Justice Secretary Michael Gove has said staying in could increase the population of the UK by up to 5.23m by 2030, putting the NHS under "unsustainable" pressure.Justice Secretary Michael Gove has said staying in could increase the population of the UK by up to 5.23m by 2030, putting the NHS under "unsustainable" pressure.
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With little over a month to go until the 23 June referendum, rival camps are highlighting the core issues of the economy and immigration.With little over a month to go until the 23 June referendum, rival camps are highlighting the core issues of the economy and immigration.
Mr Steven's comments come after Bank of England governor Mark Carney warned voting to leave the EU could hit the economy, saying that the risks could "possibly include a technical recession". Mr Stevens's comments come after Bank of England governor Mark Carney warned voting to leave the EU could hit the economy, saying that the risks could "possibly include a technical recession".
The NHS boss told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show: "If Mark Carney is right, then that is a severe concern for the National Health Service, because it would be very dangerous if at precisely the moment the NHS is going to need extra funding, actually the economy goes into a tailspin and that funding is not there."The NHS boss told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show: "If Mark Carney is right, then that is a severe concern for the National Health Service, because it would be very dangerous if at precisely the moment the NHS is going to need extra funding, actually the economy goes into a tailspin and that funding is not there."
He added: "It's been true for 68 years of NHS history that when the British economy sneezes, the NHS catches a cold and this would be a terrible moment for that to happen at precisely the time the NHS is going to need extra investment."He added: "It's been true for 68 years of NHS history that when the British economy sneezes, the NHS catches a cold and this would be a terrible moment for that to happen at precisely the time the NHS is going to need extra investment."
Mr Stevens rejected the idea, suggested by Leave campaigners, that exiting the EU would free up money that currently goes to Brussels which could be spent in the NHS instead. At best, this would fund the NHS for 19 days a year, he argued.Mr Stevens rejected the idea, suggested by Leave campaigners, that exiting the EU would free up money that currently goes to Brussels which could be spent in the NHS instead. At best, this would fund the NHS for 19 days a year, he argued.
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Leave campaigner Penny Mordaunt had told Marr there would be more chance to spend more on the NHS with the £10bn dividend.Leave campaigner Penny Mordaunt had told Marr there would be more chance to spend more on the NHS with the £10bn dividend.
She also said the NHS needed the ability to plan better and that uncontrolled immigration made it "impossible" for public services to do so. The armed forces minister also said the NHS needed the ability to plan better and that uncontrolled immigration made it "impossible" for public services to do so.
"That is very difficult unless you can have control, unless you can control the numbers coming in and you can give our public services some chance of making the provision they need," said Ms Mordaunt, who is armed forces minister. "That is very difficult unless you can have control, unless you can control the numbers coming in and you can give our public services some chance of making the provision they need," said Ms Mordaunt.
Asked about the impact of EU migrants on the health service, Mr Stevens said: "It clearly is the case that where those migrants are paying taxes that is contributing to the revenues that can afford an expanding NHS.Asked about the impact of EU migrants on the health service, Mr Stevens said: "It clearly is the case that where those migrants are paying taxes that is contributing to the revenues that can afford an expanding NHS.
"When the NHS was set up in 1948 we had a population of 50 million - we're at 65 million now - and the NHS has perfectly, successfully coped with a 15 million expansion in our population - provided it is properly resourced from the proceeds of economic growth it can do that.""When the NHS was set up in 1948 we had a population of 50 million - we're at 65 million now - and the NHS has perfectly, successfully coped with a 15 million expansion in our population - provided it is properly resourced from the proceeds of economic growth it can do that."
Mr Stevens also said the NHS "has benefited enormously" from having doctors, nurses and care workers from the EU working within the health service. Mr Stevens also said the NHS had "benefited enormously" from having doctors, nurses and care workers from the EU working within the health service.
There would be an impact if any of those 130,000 staff chose to leave the NHS because of uncertainty over work visas if the UK leaves the EU, he added. There would be an impact if any of those 130,000 staff chose to leave the NHS because of uncertainty over work visas if the UK left the EU, he added.
It could also be difficult for the UK to "get the treatments we need at an affordable price" if the pound were affected by Brexit, because many drugs are priced in euro and dollars. It could also be difficult for the UK to "get the treatments we need at an affordable price" if the pound were affected by Brexit, because many drugs are priced in euros and dollars.
'Practical realities''Practical realities'
Mr Carney has been criticised for becoming involved in the debate, but Mr Stevens said: "Everybody else has got an opinion about the NHS. It is perfectly reasonable for the NHS itself, when asked, to lay out the balance of the advantage in an objective, non-sensationalist way.Mr Carney has been criticised for becoming involved in the debate, but Mr Stevens said: "Everybody else has got an opinion about the NHS. It is perfectly reasonable for the NHS itself, when asked, to lay out the balance of the advantage in an objective, non-sensationalist way.
"These are just the practical realities the NHS would be facing and as one of the nation's most important social institutions, it seems reasonable that as we take one of these important national decisions, this goes into the balance.""These are just the practical realities the NHS would be facing and as one of the nation's most important social institutions, it seems reasonable that as we take one of these important national decisions, this goes into the balance."
Prime Minister David Cameron later told ITV show Peston on Sunday that the country "wants to hear" from people like Mr Carney and Mr Stevens, adding that the NHS chief was "making a very important point".Prime Minister David Cameron later told ITV show Peston on Sunday that the country "wants to hear" from people like Mr Carney and Mr Stevens, adding that the NHS chief was "making a very important point".
Shadow health secretary Heidi Alexander said: "Simon Stevens is absolutely right: leaving the EU could have very serious consequences for the NHS.
"I would be the first to criticise the Tories' appalling record on the NHS. However, if we vote to leave the EU on 23 June we risk plunging the NHS into an even deeper crisis. A crisis that could leave us with fewer doctors, fewer nurses and frontline services at risk of closure."
But former foreign secretary Lord Owen told the BBC's Sunday Politics: "Simon Stevens is the manager of the NHS which is currently £3bn in debt.
"This man has presided now for a sufficient time to judge his management skills. In almost every part of the National Health Service there is an acute crisis."
He said Mr Stevens should focus on managing the health service "a great deal more successfully", and added: "If there is any danger to the NHS, it is staying in with all the elements of the NHS which are now involved with the EU."