The National Audit Office (NAO) has found that ministers will not know whether there are enough medicines, medical supplies or freight capacity to support the NHS if the UK leaves the EU without a deal next month.
The NAO said there are still risks and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) still has to do a “significant amount” of work .
The critical report states that the government’s “reasonable worst case” assumption is that the flow of goods across the Channel could be reduced to 40-60% of current levels on day one. Auditors said the data available did not show that the department was ready, or would be ready, if the UK were to leave the EU on the planned date.
Meg Hillier, the chair of the public accounts committee, said the report was deeply concerning and could result in the “gravest of consequences”.
Full story in The Guardian, 27 September 2019