Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, responding to warnings of a lack of “No Deal” preparedness in the NHS, said:

“We need a Brexit deal which puts patients first but now we know of worries at the highest levels within the NHS about the Government’s calamitous failure to prepare properly for no deal.

“For weeks hospital leaders have told me in astonishment that there has been no guidance from ministers explaining the implications of no deal. The fact is that this Government’s chaotic handling of Brexit is putting NHS patients and staff at risk.

“The Government has failed to guarantee the status of hard working NHS staff from overseas after March 2019, and failed to guarantee access to medicines and life-saving treatments for patients.

“It’s incredible that there remains so much uncertainty for the NHS more than two years after the Brexit vote. We need urgent guidance from the Health Secretary about what action he’s going to take to protect NHS patients from this botched Tory Brexit.”