Ongoing concern about Brexit impact on health & social care

A high profile campaign titled ‘Assess and Address’ is highlighting the potential impact of Brexit on support and services for disabled people, unpaid carers and people living with long term conditions.

The campaign is calling for an independent review of the impact of Brexit on health and social care.

A debate was held in the Houses of Parliament where MPs heard in detail many of the worries held by the more than 100 organisations who have backed the campaign – including the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE), Camphill Scotland and the Human Rights Consortium Scotland.

Led by Brendan O’Hara MP, SNP member for Argyll and Bute, the debate heard that not a single one of the organisations who have backed the campaign feel that Brexit will be good for the health of the people in Britain.

During the debate, Minister for Health Stephen Hammond said the government has contingency plans in place to ensure any challenges presented by Brexit are met.

He said: “There is no doubt that many areas of the health and care system will be directly affected by EU exit. We do not have time to address those today. However, it is important that the country knows that the Government are committed to ensuring that, whether we leave with or without a deal, we have in place the contingency plans needed to meet those challenges.”

You can read more about this campaign here.

 

 

 

 

Image credit: Matti Mattila, Flickr