21.08.18
NHS trusts concerned about government ‘radio silence’ and potential shortage of drugs on no-deal Brexit
The UK’s departure from the European Union without a deal could lead to trusts around the country running out of vital medicines, health bosses have warned.
A leaked email from NHS Providers to Conservative ministers, chief executive of NHS England (NHSE) Simon Stevens, and chief executive of NHS Improvement (NHSI) Ian Dalton, indicated fears that leaving the EU with no deal in place could pose a major risk to health services.
The email, signed by NHS Providers chief executive Chris Hopson, called on NHSI and NHSE for greater “active national leadership,” adding that work by trusts in preparing for Brexit is being “hampered by the lack of visible and appropriate communication from the arm’s length bodies on this issue.”
Concerns raised by NHS Providers mirror much of the same worries by health experts in the UK: in July new health secretary Matt Hancock said the government is going to ‘stockpile’ drugs in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Earlier this month a hospital serving the constituents of Brexit secretary Dominic Raab, Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, warned Brexit “will break the NHS.”
The letter continued to criticise NHSI/E for the current “radio silence” from the Department of Health and Social Care and the government arms of the NHS, noting that there appears to be a “nervousness about communicating with trusts because of political sensitivities and what might appear in the media as a result.”
“As the Health and Social Care Committee has set out in detail,” the letter continued, “from day one after the UK leaves the EU, the entire supply chain of pharmaceuticals could be adversely affected in the event of a no deal or hard Brexit.” NHS Providers noted that public health and disease control coordination could also suffer, and efforts to retain European staff members could also be jeopardised.
An NHS spokeswoman said: "Ensuring the NHS is prepared for every potential outcome of Brexit is a priority.
"We will be working with our colleagues and partners across the NHS to ensure plans are well progressed, and we will provide the NHS with the support it needs."
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