Professor Jane Dacre, president of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), responds to the Health Committee's latest report - Brexit and health and social care - people & process.
Following today's release of the UK government select committee report on the consequences of Brexit for health and social care, Professor Dacre said:
The RCP completely agrees with the Health Committee’s recommendations that the government should put patients at the heart of Brexit negotiations. The report suggests that the government put ‘fundamental health concerns front and centre of the British negotiating priorities’, and that ‘whenever health issues are being discussed, it is vital that ministers or officials from the Department of Health should form part of the UK representation in negotiations with the EU'.
Much of the Health Committee’s report reflects the RCP’s submitted evidence:
- We share the committee’s concern that research and innovation in the NHS could be compromised by further restrictions to freedom of movement arising from Brexit
- We welcome the committee’s focus on workforce - particularly ‘our post-Brexit future should both ensure that health and social care providers can retain and recruit the brightest and best from all parts of the globe and that the value of the contribution of lower paid health and social workers is recognised.’
- We also welcome the Committee’s recognition of the RCP in raising the public health issues that we believe will be a priority for the Government during Brexit negotiations.
The Committee’s inquiry acknowledged that over 60,000 people from EU countries outside the UK work in the English NHS and around 90,000 in adult social care, and recognised that we will continue to need, and benefit from the presence of EU staff in health and social care.
The RCP’s full evidence is available at Brexit and health and social care – RCP response.