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Media and Political Bulletin

19 November 2018

Media Summary

Health Service Journal, Shaun Lintern, 16 November 2018

Health Service Journal reports that Minister of State for Health Steve Barclay was appointed Brexit Secretary on Friday 16^th November, in the wake of a string of resignations to hit the government as Theresa May unveiled her Brexit withdrawal deal with the European Union.

Mr Barclay was appointed Minister to the Department of Health in January 2018, having previously served at the Treasury.

The MP for North East Cambridgeshire was first elected in 2010 and replaces Dominic Raab, who resigned over Theresa May’s deal with the EU.

Brexit Health Alliance backs PM May’s draft deal

Pharmacy Business, Kiran Paul, 16 November 2018

Pharmacy Business reports that Brexit Health Alliance (BHA), the collective that brings together the NHS, medical research, industry, patients and public health organisations, welcomed the draft Brexit agreement approved last Wednesday by Prime Minister Theresa May’s cabinet.

The Alliance said it is pleased that under the agreement there would be no tariffs on goods and those that were licensed before the transition period will continue to be circulated in the EU. The BHA also supported the guarantee that the existing rights of UK and EU citizens will be retained and that in the future will include appropriate arrangements for reciprocal professional qualifications.

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Health Service Journal, Shaun Lintern, 16 November 2018

Minister of State for Health Steve Barclay has been appointed Brexit Secretary today, in the wake of a string of resignations to hit the government as Theresa May unveiled her Brexit withdrawal deal with the European Union.

Mr Barclay was appointed Minister to the Department of Health in January 2018, having previously served at the Treasury.

The MP for North East Cambridgeshire was first elected in 2010 and replaces Dominic Raab, who resigned yesterday over Theresa May’s deal with the EU.

It is understood Mr Barclay will be given a more limited brief as Brexit Secretary than his predecessors, with an emphasis on preparations for the UK departure and ensuring the withdrawal agreement passes through Parliament.

Mr Barclay will be replaced at the Department of Health and Social Care by MP for Wimbledon Stephen Hammond. Mr Hammond has previously held ministerial roles at the Department of Transport and the Treasury, and currently sits on the Treasury Select Committee.

Brexit poses multiple challenges to the NHS, including the EU workforce and the stockpiling of pharmaceuticals.

On Wednesday, HSJ revealed the government was exploring whether provider trusts should stockpile other products in case of a no-deal Brexit.

Brexit Health Alliance backs PM May’s draft deal

Pharmacy Business, Kiran Paul, 16 November 2018

Brexit Health Alliance (BHA), the collective that brings together the NHS, medical research, industry, patients and public health organisations, welcomed the draft Brexit agreement approved on Wednesday by Prime Minister Theresa May’s cabinet.

The Alliance said it is pleased that under the agreement there would be no tariffs on goods and those that were licensed before the transition period will continue to be circulated in the EU. The BHA also supported the guarantee that the existing rights of UK and EU citizens will be retained and that in the future will include appropriate arrangements for reciprocal professional qualifications.

The proposed data sharing during the transition period with the aim of an agreement and declaration on continued co-operation on health security were also welcomed.

Niall Dickson, the co-chair of the Alliance, said: “If this were delivered – and that is a big if – it would remove the uncertainty of a no deal and all the risks that would have for patients in the UK and indeed in Europe. It would mean that industry and the NHS can be confident that the supply of medicines and other vital supplies will not be disrupted from March next year.”

Dickson added that many issued raised by the Alliance will be fully addressed only when the details of the long-term relationship gets decided.

“For now, like many others, we remain deeply concerned about the prospect of ‘no deal’ and we will continue to support the healthcare sector as it prepares to do everything possible to protect patients should a deal not be reached,” Dickson said.

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry has also welcomed the draft agreement, saying the transition period will enable companies to get medicines to patients in March 2019.

The draft divorce deal with the European Union struck on Tuesday would allow the United Kingdom to leave the EU with a deal that avoids a chaotic ‘hard Brexit’ departure.

However, the deal faces an uncertain future as several of her ministers resigned on Thursday and some lawmakers in the UK parliament have vowed to vote it down.