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FMQs: Brexit causing NHS workforce issues

At a time of unprecedented pressures on Scotland’s NHS, Brexit has made those pressures so much worse, Scottish Greens health spokesperson Gillian Mackay MSP said today.

Ms Mackay raised the matter at First Minister’s Questions, highlighting comments from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine about the impact across the whole acute system.

Gillian Mackay MSP said:

“One of the biggest issues facing hospitals is staffing pressures, and Brexit has worsened matters.

“Dr John-Paul Loughrey, Vice Chair of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine said yesterday that, "across the whole acute system, [we have] lost staff members who would have come to work in the UK or who have had to leave the UK because of the situation with Brexit. "

“At a time when the NHS has faced and continues to face unprecedented pressure, a Brexit which Scotland overwhelmingly rejected, has made those pressures so much worse.”