Will email get trusts more guidance?
In a leaked email to NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens, NHS Providers says a no deal Brexit looks increasingly likely and calls for trusts to get more guidance on what to do.
A ‘hard’ Brexit could threaten pharmaceutical supply chains and cause problems for disease control, warns the email which was leaked to the media.
The message says trusts have been working independently on what to do but need a national strategy as a matter of urgency. It says trusts have received no formal communication from NHS England or NHS Improvement on the issue and calls for the two organisations to urgently convene a group of trust leaders.
Without national planning and co-ordination there could be both stockpiles and shortages of medicines and medical supplies, warns the email.
NHS Providers pointed out responsibility for some issues, such as securing specialist storage facilities and developing protocols for supplies of medicines with a short shelf life, can only sit at national level.
An NHS England spokeswoman told the BBC the health service was working with the government to plan for different post Brexit scenarios.