Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will require all sustainability and transformation plans to make an assessment of the impact of the UK leaving the EU on future staffing levels in the NHS.

The Department is undertaking analysis of overall staffing levels across the National Health Service as a result of the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union and the future immigration system as part of our workforce planning.

The Department and its arm’s length bodies, including NHS England, are working to ensure as smooth as possible a path to any new arrangements which might affect the health service and our patients.

As Brexit negotiations continue, the Department and its arm’s length bodies will continue to support the health system’s preparation for Brexit, to ensure the NHS continues to function, and is able to deliver the services that patients rely on.