Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Friday, Aug 22, 2025

Brexit uncertainty raises NHS concerns

Public Health Wales says there could be disruption to medical supplies and price hikes on food.

Disruption from Brexit could have an adverse effect on people's health and welfare, especially for vulnerable groups, a report has said.

Public Health Wales is concerned about the "likely disruption" to medical supplies and the impact of any price hikes on things like food.

It adds to concerns from January over possible problems recruiting workers.

On Thursday, Number 10 said the prime minster and his Irish counterpart could see a "pathway to a possible deal".

Talks with Boris Johnson were "very positive", according to the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

Mr Johnson has said he wants to agree a deal, but will take the UK out of the EU "do or die" on 31 October.

A negative impact of Brexit on food supply, food standards and environmental regulation - including air quality and bathing water - has increased from possible to probable, according to the report.

However, it does suggest there would be dividends, such as lower house prices and a weak pound boosting exports.

NHS Wales is already stockpiling supplies for care homes and hospitals in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

The Public Health Wales document examines the potential effects of Brexit on the short, medium and long-term health and well-being of people living in Wales.

Regarding health workers, it said: "Ongoing uncertainty around immigration rules and rights of migrants living and working in the UK is likely to affect recruitment and retention in Wales."

Johnson and Varadkar 'can see pathway to a deal'


Law to replace EU farm subsidies delayed


Care homes part of no-deal Brexit warehouse plan


In Wales, it is estimated at least 1,462 EU nationals are directly employed by the NHS - 1.6% of the workforce.

Another 6.4% of staff in registered social care settings in Wales are EU nationals - estimated at about 2,900 workers, mostly in residential care.


Analysis by Cemlyn Davies, BBC Wales political correspondent


This report paints a worrying picture of what Brexit could mean for Wales.

It says the potential negative impacts significantly outweigh the positives and the likelihood of certain problems happening has increased since PHW's last report on the matter.

But that's because the likelihood of a no-deal Brexit has increased since then too, with Boris Johnson insisting the UK will leave the EU at the end of October "do or die".

Many of the fears expressed in the report around the availability of food and medicines may be dismissed by Brexit-supporters as scare-mongering or short-term inconveniences.

But it should be noted this report also points to possible - if limited - Brexit dividends.

And despite Mr Johnson's pledge to leave on the 31st, he's required by a law to seek a Brexit extension to avert no-deal if an agreement hasn't been approved by next weekend.

On access to medication, it said there was "evidence to support the likely disruption to supply chains of medicines and medical devices, in the case of a no-deal exit, which has become increasingly likely".

The report also said there was also some evidence people's mental health was being affected by Brexit, especially those in farming communities which can be reliant on subsidies.

"The scale of uncertainty facing farming communities, some of which is directly linked to Brexit, has been identified as increasing anxiety and impacting on the mental well-being of this population group," said the report.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Dogfights in the Skies: Airbus on Track to Overtake Boeing and Claim Aviation Supremacy
Tim Cook Promises an AI Revolution at Apple: "One of the Most Significant Technologies of Our Generation"
Are AI Data Centres the Infrastructure of the Future or the Next Crisis?
Miles Worth Billions: How Airlines Generate Huge Profits
Zelenskyy Returns to White House Flanked by European Allies as Trump Pressures Land-Swap Deal with Putin
Beijing is moving into gold and other assets, diversifying away from the dollar
Trump Backs Putin’s Land-for-Peace Proposal Amid Kyiv’s Rejection
Zelenskyy to Visit Washington after Trump–Putin Summit Yields No Agreement
Iranian Protection Offers Chinese Vehicle Shipments a Cost Advantage over Japanese and Korean Makers
United States Sells Luxury Yacht Amadea, Valued at Approximately $325 Million, in First Sale of a Seized Russian Yacht Since the Invasion of Ukraine
Saudi Arabia accelerates renewables to curb domestic oil use
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez announce engagement
Asia-Pacific dominates world’s busiest flight routes, with South Korea’s Jeju–Seoul corridor leading global rankings
Private Welsh island with 19th-century fort listed for sale at over £3 million
Sam Altman challenges Elon Musk with plans for Neuralink rival
Australia to Recognize the State of Palestine at UN Assembly
The Collapse of the Programmer Dream: AI Experts Now the Real High-Earners
Armenia and Azerbaijan to Sign US-Brokered Framework Agreement for Nakhchivan Corridor
British Labour Government Utilizes Counter-Terrorism Tools for Social Media Monitoring Against Legitimate Critics
WhatsApp Deletes 6.8 Million Scam Accounts Amid Rising Global Fraud
Texas Residents Face Water Restrictions While AI Data Centers Consume Millions of Gallons
India Rejects U.S. Tariff Threat, Defends Russian Oil Purchases
United States Establishes Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile
Thousands of Private ChatGPT Conversations Accidentally Indexed by Google
China Tightens Mineral Controls, Curtailing Critical Inputs for Western Defence Contractors
JPMorgan and Coinbase Unveil Partnership to Let Chase Cardholders Buy Crypto Directly
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Germany’s Economic Breakdown and the Return of Militarization: From Industrial Collapse to a New Offensive Strategy
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Mediators Edge Closer to Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement
Germany Seeks Taliban Deal to Deport Afghan Migrants
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
×