Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the November 2018 analysis from the Nuffield Trust on the effect on the cost of NHS services of leaving the EU without a deal, what contingency plans he has put in place to tackle the estimated £2.3 billion in additional annual costs.

The Government is committed to ensuring leaving the European Union is a success for the health and social care sector as well as the United Kingdom as a whole.

The Department continually assesses the implications of the UK leaving the EU, to help ensure the best outcome for the health and care sectors. This includes understanding the financial implications of the UK exiting the EU for the National Health Service and wider care system, and, where appropriate, mitigation planning for any risks. The Department is working with its partners across Government, arms-length bodies and industry to ensure that all relevant parties are prepared for exiting the EU, and the Secretary of State sends regular communication to frontline NHS organisations about EU Exit preparations.

It is in everyone’s interests to secure a good deal for both sides. We expect to secure a good deal. However, it is the duty of a responsible government to contingency-plan for all potential EU exit scenarios, and that is exactly what we are doing. Our plans are well developed and have been designed to provide the flexibility to respond to all scenarios and ensure the smoothest exit in all outcomes. The quality and safety of patient care is paramount in our negotiations and preparedness plans.