NHS boss plans drugs stockpile in Brexit 'no deal' scenario

The chief executive of NHS England, Simon Stevens, has admitted there are contingency plans within the NHS should there be a ‘no deal’ scenario post-Brexit.

Talking on the Andrew Marr Show at the weekend, the health chief conceded that potential drugs stockpiling plans were a reality. He said: “There is immediate planning which the health department, with other parts of government, are undertaking around securing medicine supply and equipment under different scenarios.

"That will obviously crystallise when it's clear later this autumn what the UK's position will be."

The comments from the health chief come at a critical time within the NHS, with the NHS celebrating its 70th anniversary this Thursday, and Prime Minister Theresa May addressing the Cabinet about the final direction of Brexit at Chequers on Friday.

Mr Stevens continued: “Nobody is pretending this is a desirable situation but if that’s what we get to then it will not have been unforeseen.”

These comments appear to differ from ones he made in October last year. At the time, the health chief informed MPs the government hadn’t asked him to study the impact on the NHS if there was to be a no deal scenario come March 2019.

Another concern in the event of a no deal Brexit, is the UK leaving Euratom, which regulates Europe's nuclear industry. This includes the supply of medical isotopes essential for many kinds of cancer treatment.

The PM has called for the UK to maintain a "close association" with Euratom after Brexit occurs.