Hospitals at risk of running out of drugs under no deal Brexit, NHS chief warns
2 min read
Ministers and health service bosses have failed to properly prepare for the impact of Britain crashing out of the EU without a deal, NHS trusts have warned.
In a leaked letter, NHS Providers chief executive Chris Hopson said “the entire supply chain of pharmaceuticals could be adversely affected” under a no deal or hard Brexit.
He warned NHS England chief Simon Stevens and NHS Improvement boss Ian Dalton that "public health and disease control coordination could also suffer" while efforts to attract European workers could be affected.
In the document, which has been seen by The Times, Mr Hopson called for greater control at national level, rather than a reliance on individual trusts to bear the load.
“As we approach March 2019 the risk that the UK will be facing a no-deal situation in the Brexit negotiations or a ‘hard Brexit’ with minimal regulatory alignment appears to be growing,” he wrote.
“For as long as that risk remains it is important that detailed operation planning is undertaken across the NHS.
“Yet trusts tell us that their work in this area is being hampered by the lack of visible and appropriate communication.
“Our members have begun planning... but they have hit a problem, in that some activities are clearly best done at a national level and, in the view of trusts, are best co-ordinated by NHS England and NHS Improvement.
“However, there has been no formal communication to trusts from either of your organisations on this issue.”
He added that it would be more “efficient and effective” for ministers and NHS top brass to develop national solutions rather than “expecting trusts to develop contingency plans individually, in a vacuum, and have to reinvent the wheel 229 times".
The Government has ramped up its planning for a no-deal Brexit in recent weeks, and is soon to publish a range of policy papers on how different sectors will be supported.
Mr Stevens last month said the health service is working on ensuring drugs are still available under a range of Brexit scenarios.
An NHS spokesman said: "Ensuring the NHS is prepared for every potential outcome of Brexit is a priority.
"Government leads on contingency planning for different scenarios and we are working with them on this and ensuring NHS voices are heard.
"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 needs."
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