Leading healthcare organisations have written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson to express their concern about the implications of a no deal Brexit on the NHS.
They state that the NHS employs over 1.2 million people, and every year it dispenses more than one billion prescriptions, serves over 170 million meals, handles 4.7 million surgical admissions and provides over 400 million face-to-face appointments. According to the letter’s signatories, no-deal ‘if not properly planned for, even the smallest of problems could have huge consequences for the lives and wellbeing of millions of people and our economy.’
The letter has been signed by 17 health organisations, including the Royal College of Nursing, the Royal College of Midwives, and the President of the Faculty of Public Health. The letter was coordinated by the Royal College of Physicians.
‘The public rightly expects candour from us, and we are simply unable to reassure patients that their health and care won’t be negatively impacted by the UK’s exit from the EU. For example, despite welcome ongoing engagement with DHSC, we still have significant concerns about shortages of medical supplies,’ say the signatories.
‘Delays at our borders could exacerbate current supply issues and create the very real possibility that life-saving medication and devices are delayed from making it into the UK.’