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Brexit Bulletin – 4 January

January 4, 2021

The transition period for the UK exiting the EU has now ended and a trade deal has been reached which now means that the risks of no deal have been mitigated. Read on for a summary of the key areas that have been assessed and what you need to do.

Medicines

We are not anticipating supply issues so please:

  • Prescribe and dispense as normal – Explain to patients that they should continue to order their prescriptions as normal. Prescriptions covering longer durations than normally prescribed should be avoided.

We are advised not to stockpile medicines due to the impact on other health care providers. Our pharmacy team will be monitoring our stock levels and will escalate if there is any likelihood of a shortage in supply. Please contact Pun Sharma, Chief Pharmacist if any concerns.

Medical devices, clinical consumables, non-clinical goods and services

Measures are in place to help ensure stocks continue to be available even if there are transport delays.

Don’t stockpile products: Please ensure that you order supplies in good time and allow for a lead time of around three days or longer for products and services coming directly from the EU.

Please contact Mike Hanson, Director of Procurement if any concerns or queries.

Workforce

  • Our EU colleagues make a substantial contribution to our NHS Trust as valued employees. Everyone who is identified on their staff record (ESR) as being an EU national has been contacted with advice on how to register for the EU Settlement scheme. This is open to all EU citizens, including NHS staff, and can allow EU nationals to gain ‘settled’ or ‘pre-settled status’. The Settlement Scheme will allow EU nationals to continue to live and work in the UK beyond June 2021, meaning they will not need to apply for visas when the new immigration system takes effect. The scheme will also lock in the rights of EU nationals, meaning they will be able to access healthcare, benefits and other government services in the same way they currently do. If you are from the EU and have not already done so, you are encouraged to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme. You can do this up until 30 June 2021.
  • Employment contracts will not need to change for EU citizens legally resident in the UK on 31 December 2020.
  • Recognition of professional qualifications will apply for at least two years after the end of the transition period.
  • Immigration Bill – most healthcare roles are exempt from the restrictions imposed by the Immigration Bill.
  • The immigration surcharge – does not apply to registered professionals and their family members.

Data

  • We are advised to continue to handle data as we currently do (which is covered by GDPR).
  • The agreement the Government has reached includes a provision to provide for the continued free flow of personal data from the EU and EEA EFTA States to the UK until adequacy decisions are adopted, and for not longer than six months.
  • The UK has, on a transitional basis, deemed the EU and EEA EFTA States to be adequate to allow to for data flows from the UK.

Reciprocal healthcare and cost recovery

  • A new UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) will be available from the new year in recognition of the new agreement with the EU. This will replace the EHIC.
  • The agreement the Government has reached with the EU ensures that UK residents will continue to have access to emergency and necessary healthcare cover when they travel to the EU. This will operate like the current EHIC scheme.
  • However, people will still be able to use their EHIC after 1 January when travelling to the EU. Current cards will remain valid until their expiry date.
  • There are no changes regarding overseas visitors therefore patients must still be asked the same questions regarding their status and referred as normal to the Overseas Visitor team.

Vaccines

We are advised not to stock pile vaccines and will be monitoring stock levels and working with partners to agree any contingency and collaboration arrangements. The NHS nationally will be monitoring vaccine supply. Any COVID-19 vaccine will be included in the planning arrangements. As any vaccine would be a category 1 good, it will be covered by the express freight capacity if needed.

Blood and transplant

  • NHS Blood and Transplant (NHS BT) will continue to function as it does now, including its arrangements for reference services.
  • NHSBT products should not be stock piled.
  • Ordering/requests for tissue products and stem cells should continue as normal. Tissues must not be stockpiled.

Research and clinical networks

The NHS and government are working with organisations sponsoring and running clinical trials and investigations to ensure that research continues as normal in the coming months.

  • Continue participating in and recruiting patients to clinical trials and investigations. Only stop recruitment if you are requested to do so by a trial sponsor, the organisation managing the trial or clinical investigation, or in a formal communication from MHRA.
  • Principle investigators are encouraged to work with their suppliers to review their existing supply chains for clinical trials, to ensure appropriate supplies of trial drugs and medical products are in place.
  • Continue to monitor and follow guidance from NIHR and MHRA in relation to how to operate from 1 January 2021, including the running of clinical trials, importing and exporting medical products.
  • Clinical trial sponsors should ensure appropriate supplies of trial drugs and medical products are in place.

For more information contact Gina Dutton, Head of Research and Development.

Further information

Dinah McLannahan, Chief Finance Officer is the Trust’s Senior Responsible Officer for Brexit and can be contacted if any concerns.