Brexit: we must make our European workers feel welcome, says NHS medical director

Sarah Knapton, Science Editor 24 June 2016 • 4:17pm

NHS workers form Europe must be made to feel welcome in the wake of Britain’s decision to exit the union, the health service’s medical director has said.

Professor Sir Bruce Keogh told the Health Service Journal (HSJ) that the referendum vote would leave many staff feeling unsure about their future.

“It is really important we make them feel welcome,” he said.

“If you are a European doctor or nurse you might not feel too welcome at the moment.

“The essence of delivering high quality care is dependent on a workforce that feels valued and secure.”

Meanwhile, leading midwives and medical organisations expressed fears over the impact Brexit will have on NHS finances.

In a statement, the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) said: "The vote is likely to result in a period of considerable uncertainty for the UK. Whilst it will be some time before the full economic, political and social implications become clear, the impact that this will have on public finances and the funding of the NHS remains of concern to the RCM."

Prime Minister David Cameron announces his resignation outside Downing Street Credit: AP

And the British Medical Association (BMA) has urged politicians "not to play games" with the health service in the aftermath of the referendum.

As a result of the country's decision to leave the EU, health regulators may have to change the way information about medics is shared across European borders when concerns are raised about doctors or nurses.

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At present, there are European directives on sharing disciplinary records and fitness to practise hearings.

Niall Dickson, chief executive of the General Medical Council, said: "Withdrawing from Europe will have implications for the way that we regulate doctors but we understand that the vote to leave the EU will have no impact on the registration status of any doctor already on the register.

"We will now explore how doctors from the EU will be granted access to the UK medical register and how any concerns about those doctors will be shared between us and other countries.

“We will also seek to understand the implications for UK doctors wishing to work in the EU once the UK is no longer a member state."

Nigel Farage admitted NHS figures that he cited before the referendum were wrong Credit: AP

Jackie Smith, chief executive of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), said: "We will be working closely with the Government and other partners to understand the implications of the UK's negotiated withdrawal from the European Union on our work.

“However, there will be no immediate impact on the NMC in terms of our role as the UK-wide regulator for nursing and midwifery."

Meanwhile, Nigel Farage has said that the official Leave campaign's call to spend £350 million a week extra on the NHS with money saved from contributions to the European Union was a "mistake" and cannot be guaranteed to happen.

The figure has twice been described as misleading by the UK Statistics Authority watchdog.