BREXIT

Brexit could spell disaster for NHS Lanarkshire.

Documents obtained through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request show the health board may not be in “full operational readiness” for EU withdrawal on March 29 next year.

The risk of worsening staff shortages in vital health services, as well as rising costs and less availability of drugs/treatments within NHS Lanarkshire following Brexit are “very high”.

Initially, the risk from the impact of Brexit was deemed “high” but this was raised to “very high” by the health board, while “tolerance for Brexit” is “low.”

Leading union Unite has warned the FOI has flaggedup serious concerns over a lack of strategic planning by NHS Lanarkshire and across the country, with the health board unaware of precisely how many workers from the EU support critical services within the NHS.

In response to a Scottish Government questionnaire asking if the dependency on non-uk EU workers within the workforce has been assessed, the health board say they have “no central database that collates and holds this information” and so far a “small number” of staff have come forward with concerns.

The impact of staffing in the independent sector – primarily care homes and

Uncertainty There are a number of concerns relating to service delivery which have been highlighted in the Brexit documents