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Brexit: NHS managers warn about impact of no deal | Brexit: NHS managers warn about impact of no deal |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The group representing hospitals and ambulance services in England has warned of a lack of "contingency planning" to deal with the impact of a no-deal Brexit on the health service. | The group representing hospitals and ambulance services in England has warned of a lack of "contingency planning" to deal with the impact of a no-deal Brexit on the health service. |
In a leaked email to NHS England boss Simon Stevens, NHS Providers says leaving the EU without agreement would immediately be a real risk to services. | In a leaked email to NHS England boss Simon Stevens, NHS Providers says leaving the EU without agreement would immediately be a real risk to services. |
The group warns it would make it harder to stop the spread of diseases. | The group warns it would make it harder to stop the spread of diseases. |
NHS England said preparing for every potential Brexit outcome is a priority. | NHS England said preparing for every potential Brexit outcome is a priority. |
Ministers are to reveal more details of their contingency planning for a no-deal Brexit later this week. | |
Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab, who will travel to Brussels for the latest round of talks with his EU counterpart Michel Barnier on Tuesday, has said a deal is still the most likely outcome. | Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab, who will travel to Brussels for the latest round of talks with his EU counterpart Michel Barnier on Tuesday, has said a deal is still the most likely outcome. |
But he has said preparations for the failure to reach an agreement this autumn, or Parliament rejecting any deal, is the responsible course of action. | But he has said preparations for the failure to reach an agreement this autumn, or Parliament rejecting any deal, is the responsible course of action. |
The UK is set to leave the EU on 29 March 2019 and the two sides are currently negotiating the terms of its exit and its future relations in a whole range of issues. | The UK is set to leave the EU on 29 March 2019 and the two sides are currently negotiating the terms of its exit and its future relations in a whole range of issues. |
With seven months to go, ministers have said they are stepping up contingency preparations for a no-deal Brexit, while insisting that it is not their chosen outcome. | With seven months to go, ministers have said they are stepping up contingency preparations for a no-deal Brexit, while insisting that it is not their chosen outcome. |
'Stockpiles and shortages' | 'Stockpiles and shortages' |
But NHS Providers - which represents acute, ambulance, community and mental health services within the health service - has expressed concern about what it says is a lack of engagement with ministers in the email, seen by the BBC. | But NHS Providers - which represents acute, ambulance, community and mental health services within the health service - has expressed concern about what it says is a lack of engagement with ministers in the email, seen by the BBC. |
It has called for NHS England and NHS Improvement - which oversees NHS trusts and providers - to convene a group of trust leaders as a matter of urgency. | It has called for NHS England and NHS Improvement - which oversees NHS trusts and providers - to convene a group of trust leaders as a matter of urgency. |
In an email sent to NHS chief executive Simon Stevens, also copied in to Mr Raab and Health Secretary Matt Hancock, it calls for a co-ordinated response to confront the challenges that would be presented by a no deal. | In an email sent to NHS chief executive Simon Stevens, also copied in to Mr Raab and Health Secretary Matt Hancock, it calls for a co-ordinated response to confront the challenges that would be presented by a no deal. |
Chief executive of NHS Providers Chris Hopson writes that there has been "no formal communication" to trusts from either NHS England or NHS Improvement on this issue. | Chief executive of NHS Providers Chris Hopson writes that there has been "no formal communication" to trusts from either NHS England or NHS Improvement on this issue. |
Without national planning and coordination "there could be both stockpiles and shortages of medicines and medical devices", Mr Hopson says. | Without national planning and coordination "there could be both stockpiles and shortages of medicines and medical devices", Mr Hopson says. |
He adds that "disease control coordination could also suffer". | He adds that "disease control coordination could also suffer". |
Two MPs who want a referendum on the final Brexit deal have criticised the government's approach. | |
Conservative MP Dr Sarah Wollaston, chair of the health and social care committee, said: "For the government to proceed without setting out the risks and benefits of the terms of Brexit...would be like a surgeon relying on consent to surgery obtained two years previously - without their patient knowing whether this would involve a few toes or their whole leg." | |
Labour MP Ben Bradshaw said: "No-one voted for this shambles and they certainly didn't vote to damage our NHS." | |
'Not unforeseen' | 'Not unforeseen' |
An NHS England spokeswoman said the health service was working with government, planning for different post-Brexit scenarios. | An NHS England spokeswoman said the health service was working with government, planning for different post-Brexit scenarios. |
"We will be working with our colleagues and partners across the NHS to ensure plans are well progressed, and will provide the NHS with the support it need," she said. | "We will be working with our colleagues and partners across the NHS to ensure plans are well progressed, and will provide the NHS with the support it need," she said. |
Last month, Mr Stevens said "extensive" planning was under way to prepare the health service for a no-deal scenario, to ensure the continued supply of medicines and equipment. | Last month, Mr Stevens said "extensive" planning was under way to prepare the health service for a no-deal scenario, to ensure the continued supply of medicines and equipment. |
While this would not be "desirable", he said that - if such a situation arose - the effects would not be "unforeseen". | While this would not be "desirable", he said that - if such a situation arose - the effects would not be "unforeseen". |
A series of technical notices - including advice for businesses, citizens and public bodies about a so-called "hard Brexit" - will be made public over the next month or so. | A series of technical notices - including advice for businesses, citizens and public bodies about a so-called "hard Brexit" - will be made public over the next month or so. |
Downing Street has described the advice due on Thursday as "sensible, proportionate, and part of a common sense approach to ensure stability, whatever the outcome of talks". | Downing Street has described the advice due on Thursday as "sensible, proportionate, and part of a common sense approach to ensure stability, whatever the outcome of talks". |
On the same day, Mr Raab will make a speech in Westminster to outline the government's plans for the possibility of leaving the EU without a deal. | On the same day, Mr Raab will make a speech in Westminster to outline the government's plans for the possibility of leaving the EU without a deal. |
The UK is seeking "associate membership" of the European Medicines Agency, which evaluates and supervises medicines and helps national authorities authorise the sale of drugs across the EU's single market. | The UK is seeking "associate membership" of the European Medicines Agency, which evaluates and supervises medicines and helps national authorities authorise the sale of drugs across the EU's single market. |