'Real harm' could be caused by no-deal Brexit, says health minister

The health minister for Wales has said a no-deal Brexit could "put patients lives at risk".

Speaking to ITV News, Vaughan Gething said any shortages of drugs caused by no deal could cause "real harm".

He said: "Any medicine shortage for any patient who relies on that medication for their care treatment and wellbeing, there's an interruption in that supply, people will understandably be anxious and for some people that could cause real harm."

When asked whether such shortages would put lives at risk he said: "It potentially does and there's no way around that."

Mr Gething added: "I can't look you or anyone else in the eye and say absolutely everything will be fine... my concern is that real harm could be caused."

His comments came on the day the BMA warned a no-deal Brexit would be Credit: PA Images

The Health Minister's comments come on the day the British Medical Association also warned that a no-deal Brexit would be "catastrophic" for the NHS across the UK.

Dr Chaand Nagpaul CBE, BMA Council Chair said: "The Government will say its ‘no deal’ planning will protect the NHS from the catastrophic consequences of Brexit. We are unconvinced. With less than two months to go until the UK potentially crashes out of the EU, we still have many questions about the impact of ‘no deal’ on patients and the NHS."

Dr Nagpaul added: "Let us be clear: we are not ‘the doubters, the doomsters or the gloomsters’ the Prime Minister described on the steps of Downing Street. Nor is this ‘Project Fear’. We are doctors who day-in and day-out, provide care for patients in the face of challenges that will only be made worse by a ‘no deal’ Brexit in the critical winter months following 31st October."

A UK Government spokesperson said: “We want to reassure patients that we should be fully prepared for leaving on October 31, whatever the circumstances.“We are taking all appropriate steps, meaning our plans should ensure the supply of medicines and medical products remains uninterrupted when we leave the EU."

They added: “Where medicines have a short shelf-life, we are working with suppliers to have plans in place to air freight these medicines so there is no disruption to the supply chain.”