What would a full-on “no deal” hard Brexit do to our NHS and social care system? What would happen if all EU nationals were returned to their own country and UK nationals living in the EU had to come back to Britain?

The National canvassed the opinions of health professionals, their representative organisations, trade unions and individuals involved in the social care sector in particular.

The verdicts ranged from “disaster, total disaster” to “utter catastrophe” and “unimaginable chaos”.

None – not a single person in the industry we spoke to – could see any alternative to the sector being devastated by Brexit, and as The National shows today, it already is being so. Nor could the NHS afford the increased bills for returning ex-pats.

The most personal reaction was put by an ordinary worker in a social care organisation in Edinburgh who asked not to be named.

He said “I live and work alongside a Polish couple and they are two of the best workers I have ever known as well as being lovely people.

“They were totally devastated by the result of the referendum a year ago, and ever since then they have been worried about their future – and I mean really, really worried.

“I am not in a trade union, I have never been on strike or a protest march about anything, but I think it’s time for Scottish workers and their unions to rise up and tell the Tory government that we do not want a hard Brexit because it will destroy the lives of our fellow workers. It’s time workers fought for workers.”