While politicians in Parliament continue to debate the results of the referendum to leave the EU, the deadline of 29 March 2019 fast approaches. Our Trust, along with all Trusts nationally, has been asked to make preparations for a ‘no deal’ Brexit*. The Department of Health and Social Care has issued us with guidance to support our planning, and a weekly task and finish group is being chaired by our Chief Operating Officer, Helen Barker.
The guidance: ‘EU Exit Operational Readiness Guidance - Actions the health and care system in England’ outlines actions healthcare providers should take to prepare for a 'no deal' scenario’ to help guide our planning.
The areas we are focussing on at CHFT are:
- Supplies of medicine and vaccines
- Supplies of medical and clinical supplies, non-clinical consumables, goods and services
- Workforce
- Reciprocal healthcare
- Research
- Data sharing, processing and access.
Some of the things we have done to date include writing to all our suppliers to ask them to confirm their own arrangements to maintain supplies post Brexit; making sure our business continuity plans are up-to-date and tested; and checking the supply chains for our medicines and vaccines. We have also made plans for command and control arrangements to be in place at the end of March and into April.
Trusts are being asked not to stockpile medicines and goods locally as this is being managed at a national level. And this week the Government has announced that it no longer intends to charge for applications for settlement status so we are working with our 166 EU national employees to ensure that they are supported to apply.
The task and finish group is meeting weekly and has representation from all divisions and key departments across the Trust. Over the coming weeks we will keep you updated on our preparations.
*A no deal Brexit means the UK would leave the European Union (EU) immediately on 29 March 2019, and there would be no agreements in place about what their relationship would be like in future.