An article in the Lancet starts "All forms of Brexit are bad for health, but some are worse than others" It looks a four different scenarios . " ... a No-Deal Brexit under which the UK leaves the EU on March 29, 2019, without any formal agreement on the terms of withdrawal; a Withdrawal Agreement, as negotiated between the UK and EU and awaiting (possible) formal agreement, which provides a transition period until the end of December, 2020; the Northern Ireland Protocol's backstop coming into effect after the end of that period; or the Political Declaration on the Future Relationship between the UK and EU."
It tells us that they have found that, although all forms involve negative consequences for the UK's leadership and governance of health, in both Europe and globally, with questions about the ability of parliament and other stakeholders to scrutinise and oversee government actions a No-Deal Brexit is substantially worse for the NHS than a future involving the Withdrawal Agreement.
It discusses difficulties in recruiting medical staff which they see as the most challenging area. It goes on to illuminate the issues with financing health care, saying "The only aspect of NHS financing after Brexit in which we can expect no change is for reciprocal health care under the Withdrawal Agreement. Obviously even this goes if we are unable to reach a deal and just drop out. It then looks at all other aspects of NHS where, they say, financing is negatively affected under all Leave outcomes.
"Ceasing of this system will have major consequences for older UK residents, especially if they have pre-existing conditions, because insurance cover, which might not be available for those with the most severe conditions, could be extremely expensive." Some other groups will be particularly affected, such as patients on dialysis who benefit from provisions that allow them to receive it in centres in other member states."
They looked at the consensus of economic reports and noted that the outcomes suggested in those reports - of a negative impact on the economy - have been borne out. They point out that forecasting is always difficult but in the case of Brexit is it more so.
"As one of the largest areas of public expenditure, any negative impact on the UK economy will put additional pressure on NHS financing ..."
The paper also looks at other areas which will have an effect on health. Food supply (there was an interview about this on "Today, R4, this morning) because of our overwhelming importing of fresh fruit and vegetables.
"... a modelling study estimated that a No-Deal Brexit could lead to between 6000 and 23 000 excess deaths from cardiovascular disease between 2021 and 2030."
There was a great deal more of course. You can read the article (if you register) here: www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(19)30425-8/fulltext?fbclid=IwAR3NrFJwWrGUD-P0BZcq51fo9KApsEJdToJvvYI2kPOBkC5n38JzpT0BXJ4
I have posted before about not being able to get hold of some medication I take. My GP and pharmacist both said it was to do with Brexit and if we leave without a deal the situation will only get worse. I don’t see it as scaremongering, just stating the facts.
But they are not allowed to be truthful facts Dyffryn. They have to be "scaremongering facts". Rather as in Trumps America, a fact is not a fact unless the Brexiters agree it is.
Having many family in the medical world, this assertion that Brexit is causing lack of medication should be investigated.
Any GP or pharmacist that says that is going against all the protocol.
I wonder if it's even true. Just sounds like a good way to back up a dramatic argument.
Which protocol is that?
Read up for yourself Growstuff. Read what the NHS has said. This poster moaning about his pills not being available and the GP blaming Brexit. We haven't even left the EU yet!
And I thought that the Remainers were the intelligent ones. The more I read the more hilarious that assertion is.
I have been told by people working at a senior level within the pharmaceutical industry that there IS a shortage of certain drugs. There used to be a publicly available list, but it's only available to pharmacists now.) It isn't directly to do with Brexit because obviously Brexit hasn't happened yet. However, Brexit is a factor. The government is stockpiling certain drugs, so it's becoming increasingly difficult for pharmacists to get hold of them. Not only that, but there is a global supply problem. Pharma companies will obviously sell to the highest and most reliable buyer. The UK is currently not seen as reliable (caused by Brexit), so they put the NHS towards the bottom of their buyers' list and try to charge a premium, which the NHS is reluctant to pay.
You may also have read that Trump wants to include the price of drugs in any trade deal. That's not scare-mongering, but real (you can Google it if you want and find the actual speech). He made a speech last announcing his intention to stop American companies selling to the NHS at lower costs than they charge American consumers. His intention is to reduce the cost paid by Americans, subsidised by higher charges to the NHS.
I couldn't find anything about any protocol, which is why I asked you. I googled it the first time you mentioned it.
Errrmmm...read my post Minniemoo, as you claim to be such a clever clogs.
Medication not being available is hilarious. Really?
Not sure gransnet is the place for me.
Why's that then?
I don't suppose the people whose drugs aren't available think it's hilarious.
By the way, I have personal experience of this. I rely on certain drugs for my quality of life and, for the second month running, the pharmacist couldn't give me a whole month of supplies. Last month I had to make three separate trips to the pharmacist to pick up a few days' tablets at a time. The pharmacist told me she'd had to ring round all sorts of places to get them for me. Of course, she could have been lying or scare-mongering, but I don't think so. This month, she could only give me tablets for 7 days and I'm expecting a phone call, when she's managed to get more.
By the way, Goodbyetoallthat, there are plenty of other parts of Gransnet.
growstuff. I have been on medication for many years. During this time I have been told that they didn't have enough and gave me the slip and told they'd phone when it was in stock
This is quite a common scenario.
This was happening long before Brexit.
Who or what should I have blamed?
And to think you googled. The NHS has categorically stated that there is no cause for concern. Procedures have been put in place.
"The UK is currently not seen as reliable (caused by Brexit), so they put the NHS towards the bottom of their buyers' list and try to charge a premium, which the NHS is reluctant to pay.' How I wish that was true. Google liothyronine and see how much the NHS was paying for it. A drug that costs £5 in Europe. Here I'll do it for you. The NHS sadly pays far too much for many items. It needs a shake up.
www.theguardian.com/business/2017/nov/21/drug-firm-concordia-overcharged-nhs-with-6000-price-rise
Goodbytoallthat 'Medication not being available is hilarious. Really?,
what is it do do not understand, or find 'hilarious' indeed - that also goes to instruments for operations, prostheses, isotopes for cancer treatment? Hilarious, did you say?
Minniemoo- the NHS will pay a lot more post Brexit for sure, in so many ways. To begin with, tanking Sterling is adding a lot to cost, and then there will be tariffs. Also the EU, in times of natural shortages, will prioritise their own members, quite naturally. And then of course, import issues, by air or sea/road.
Why anyone would find this 'hilarious' is beyond me.
The NHS sadly pays far too much for many items.
Once Trump gets his trade deal with the desperate UK the NHS will be paying far, far more...
Indeed- btw Minniemoo - our Government can put in place any procedures they wish - but we are an Island (even though Raab has only just found out...) reliant on air and road freight dependant mainly on EU procedures and treaties we will no longer be part off. So our Government's procedures are all hot air and not worth the paper they are written on ....
Minniemoo, I quite clearly stated that I don't directly "blame" Brexit, but it is having an indirect effect.
By the way, I'm still waiting for some evidence of the protocol you mentioned.
When I was in U.K. during June we had an unexpected family bereavement so extended our trip by two weeks. This had a knock on effect that I had insufficient tablets of two of my medications. I took my EU prescription to a local chemist and they were able to give me the pills although they said they needed to treat it as a private prescription and I had to pay +£80-16 for the drugs - which I was unable to reclaim. I had to wait in the pharmacy for about half an hour and in that time I saw half a dozen people wanting prescriptions dispensed being told to try other pharmacies such as Boots which have larger warehouse storage facilities or return to the doctor and ask to be given a prescription for an alternative drug.
Why would a pharmacist do this if there was no shortage of drugs?
As to the link about T3 thyroxine drugs some Health authorities are refusing to allow this drug to be prescribed and the patient has to either pay for it privately - a cost which is now £350 a month or try and obtain the drug abroad. It is available in some EU countries for £5 a month. I cannot understand the discrepancy in prices.
This is so hard- and I am fully aware many Brexiters think us 'Remainers' to be the self-appointed 'clever people who know 'best'- and that 'experts' are just an irrelevant nonsense. But 'experts' is whom we trust, not Cummings, or Johnson, or Gove or ... any of them. They are the one we listen to carefully, and take onboard the information and advice they give us. And yet, still - people come up with statements about 'just believe, be positive, trust our PM and Government, they will make sure we are OK, etc, etc.- and when 'challenged' just refuse to come back with anything coherent about such statements and belief.
She explains it well - and she is an expert
www.facebook.com/206794096660124/videos/380162142551072/
so I'll take my queue from her and other experts, like Prof Dougan, like Jason Hunter who has negotiated deals internationally for our Government and others, etc.
succinct and frightening Jura2, but standby for the reasons why it should be ignored. Have you got your Brexiteers bingo card at the ready?
Eyes down for ' we managed in the war' and 'it will cure the obesity crisis'.
Just popping out to the garden to grub up my wasteful, luxury strawberries and plant sensible sprouts and cabbage for the winter.
If we leave with no deal then we leave on WTO terms. The EU will still sell us food. We will sell less to EU and more to other countries, which has been trend over last 5 years anyway. Plus fish will become cheaper as fishing quotas rise for UK fisherman. No need to panic. I am expecting a month of less food choice then back to normal. EU counties will sell to us as we will liwer tarriffs for imports.
I was unaware the NHS would prescribe Liothyroxine. I have asked my GP as needed Tyroxine for 25 years but told she can't prescribe on NHS. I have to have Levothyroxine which is not that good for me. My sistr btought me back some from Greece and I felt better with it and it cost her 3 pounds for a months supply. This is nothing to do with Brexit. My Levothyroxine comes from India. Where is link to Brexit?
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