Third sector fears over Brexit impact on health and care ‘significant’

Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland

Over 50 third sector organisations have backed an SNP amendment to the EU Withdrawal Bill calling for a review of the impact of Brexit on health and care systems across the UK.

The amendment is due to be heard as MPs debate the laws repatriated from the European Union after Britain leaves.

The sector is concerned about the impact on staff from the EU, a decline in funding for medical research and levels of funding for services.

Among the organisations to sign up in support of a review are Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland, Disability Wales, Camphill Scotland, Coalition of Care Providers Scotland, Genetic Alliance UK, Inclusion Scotland, Scottish Care and SCVO.

Ian Welsh, Chief Executive of the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland, said: “ALLIANCE members have raised significant concerns about the impact Brexit will have on their operations after the 2019 leaving date.

“By supporting an independent review of its impact we hope to highlight the impact of leaving the EU for organisations supporting people with long term conditions and ways of addressing these concerns.”

Camphill Scotland, which provides care services to people with learning difficulties, was recently cited in a Scottish Government report into the contribution of EU citizens living in Scotland.

Director Dr Neil Henery said: “Camphill was founded in Scotland by Austrian refugees and remains very much a European and international movement. 170 of the 251 short-term volunteer co-workers currently living and working in Camphill communities in Scotland are from other EU countries.

“Without them Camphill could not continue in its present form to the great detriment of the over five hundred people with learning disabilities and other support needs who depend on us for their care, education and support.”

Rhian Davies, Chief Executive of Disability Wales, said: “Health inequality is a major challenge in Wales due to the high proportion of disabled people in the population and higher than average levels of poverty.

“It is vital that steps are taken to ensure that the situation in Wales is not made worse following changes in the health and social care workforce following Brexit.”