Summary of Secretary of State's evidence on Brexit published
20 February 2017
The Health Committee has published a brief overview of the Brexit and health and social care oral evidence session with the Secretary of State for Health which took place on 24 January 2017.
- Watch Parliament TV: Brexit and health and social care
- Read the transcript: Brexit and health and social care, 24-01-2017
- Read the overview: Brexit and health and social care
- Inquiry: Brexit and health and social care
- Health Committee
Summary
The Secretary of State's overall message was that Brexit is an opportunity for health: a catalyst to address issues that should have been addressed before, and he identified health and care workforce training as a particular example.
He is confident that his department has capacity to make all contingency plans necessary for Brexit (though he would not disclose them). The Government's priority is to secure certainty for citizens (for EU citizens working in health and social care in the UK, and for Britons living and working in the EU); the Government would seek the closest possible cooperation with the EU on issues such as medicines licensing, but not be within the EU internal market.
Further work by the Committee
The Committee will be taking further oral evidence from expert witnesses on 21 and 28 February, focussing on the implications of the UK's withdrawal from the European Union for reciprocal healthcare arrangements and for the health and social care workforce.
The Committee's report is expected to be published after Easter. Further oral evidence sessions on other aspects of the implications of Brexit on health and social care will be announced in due course.
Further information
Image: PA