10. Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: The Impact of a 'No Deal' Brexit on our Health and Care Services

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:46 pm on 22 January 2019.

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Photo of Vaughan Gething Vaughan Gething Labour 4:46, 22 January 2019

Very clearly.

It's a very interesting but utterly predictable contribution from Michelle Brown. To claim that the measures that we are taking to prepare for a 'no deal' Brexit and the information we're providing to the country is nothing short of abuse is extraordinary even for her. The challenges are real and serious and I'm setting out the measures that we're taking with partners in health and social care. This isn't just my view, it's not just the view of the NHS Confederation or the Welsh Local Government Association. You should talk to representative staff groups within the health service, talk to the Royal College of Midwives, talk to the Royal College of Nursing, talk to the British Medical Association about their view on Brexit. They're not scaremongering, they are genuinely concerned about the future of health and care services where their members work, but also where they and their families receive care as well. And I just think that, at some point, even members of UKIP have to accept that there are very real concerns about the impact of a 'no deal' Brexit.

Now, of course we discuss matters of medicine supply with industry representatives here in Wales. A member from the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry is a member of our taskforce group here in Wales, but it is a UK Government responsibility to safeguard medicine supply and regulation. That is why we have conversations with them about the measures that they are taking and the assurance they provide and the information that we think they should share with other national Governments within the United Kingdom.

I said in my statement that there are at least 1,400 European Union staff within the health service. It's not a condition of employment within the health service that you tell the employer which European Union country or other part of the world you come from, so it's optional for people to opt in. But there are at least 1,400 European Union nationals, and I for one am very grateful they have chosen to make their life here with us. 

On your final point—well, one of the points you made—about there being no real reason to be concerned about prescription medicine supply in the event of 'no deal' Brexit, well that is a staggering denial of reality. It is an unavoidable truth. I think 39 million items come into the United Kingdom on a regular basis from the European Union. That is not trivial matter. The customs challenge, of course, you've talked about, and said there would be no reason not to wave through—that simply isn't true. It's a basic point of World Trade Organization rules—you have to have customs checks. If you are going to operate on World Trade Organization terms, that is what you have to do. It is not optional. So, actually, you have to build in time to have checks to take place. And that interruption in the supply doesn't just affect the health service, it affects every other part of the economy and economic activity where supply takes place and has to cross borders. At some point, project reality has to bite. This Government is doing the right thing by our citizens and being responsible in preparing for all eventualities, including, of course, the catastrophic potential of a 'no deal' Brexit.