Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made preparations for reduced staff levels in the NHS in the event that the UK leaves the EU with no deal.

We do not want or expect a no deal scenario. As a result of the significant progress made in negotiations, we remain confident we will agree a mutually advantageous deal with the European Union. We are not, however, complacent, and have plans in place in the event the United Kingdom leaves the EU with no deal. Our overall programme of work is comprehensive, thorough and continuously updated.

We have been clear from the beginning of this process that we want EU nationals currently working in the National Health Service to stay after we leave the EU and we are working to safeguard their future, regardless of the outcome of the negotiations.

The Department continues to monitor and analyse overall staffing levels across the NHS and, and we are working across Government to ensure there will continue to be sufficient staff to deliver the high quality services on which patients rely following the UK’s exit from the EU