An NHS trust has offered staff free counselling to help them cope with the Brexit result.

District nurses and carers providing community and mental health services in South East London and Kent have been told they can take the sessions to manage their concerns about the referendum.

In an email to all staff seen by the Mail, Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust told employees: ‘We appreciate that the result of the EU referendum may worry some staff.

‘We want to take this opportunity to reassure you that Oxleas values every member of staff equally, regardless of nationality.

Memorial Hospital, in south-east London, which is part of Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust

‘We are committed to ensuring that all members of staff are treated with dignity and respect wherever they work, free from undue stress and anxiety.

‘There is likely to be a period of uncertainty for some time following referendum result, but we want to reassure staff that we are here to help and support you.’

The workforce of around 3,500 people were told they could access the free counselling service offering confidential advice and support 24 hours a day.

Ukip MEP Jane Collins said the decision to offer counselling was ‘an insult to democracy and an insult to people who expect their NHS to deliver healthcare for sick people not those having referendum-related tantrums’.

‘People upset by a referendum result should not be offered a free counselling service when there are people with genuine mental health care needs who are on a waiting list for treatment,’ she said.

Ukip MEP Jane Collins said the decision to offer counselling was ‘an insult to democracy'

‘Is this NHS trust seriously suggesting that people who believe in democracy will start attacking staff, or that their own staff need therapy to cope with the results of an election that the establishment can't get its head around?

‘Up and down the country there is extraordinary pressure on services for genuinely ill people who need treatment yet here we have some right on do-gooder who has reacted like democracy is something to be ashamed or concerned about.

‘Londoners may have voted to remain as a whole but the rest of the country realised that we are better off out of the EU.’

Eurosceptics repeatedly made clear during the referendum campaign that EU workers already in Britain would be allowed to remain under international law.

Last year, Stephen Firn, who was at the time chief executive of Oxleas NHS trust, joined with nine other London health trust bosses to warn against cuts to mental health funding.

A spokesman said last night: ‘It is being widely reported that many EU citizens currently working in the UK are feeling unwelcome and unsure about their future.

‘In addition, as reported yesterday in the Health Service Journal, advice from Prof Sir Bruce Keogh is that the NHS does all it can to make EU staff feel welcome.