NICOLA Sturgeon has called on the UK Government to “come clean” and reveal how much Brexit will cost the NHS.
The First Minister claimed millions of pounds could be lost in funding for research trials after leaving the EU.
READ MORE: Tory minister denies links to Unionist firm with 'Nazi hunter' boss
She also pointed to other potential dangers, such as pharmaceutical companies being told to stockpile medicine in preparation for a no-deal scenario.
Speaking ahead of her speech at the National Cancer Research Institute Conference, Surgeon said: “Far from the £350 million extra a week promised to the NHS from Brexit, there is growing evidence of mounting costs.
“It’s now time the UK Government came clean on the scale of the cost to our health service.
“The Prime Minister failed to guarantee there would be no interruption in medicine supplies after Brexit.
“This came after UK ministers published a truncated tender, at a cost of tens of millions of pounds, associated with medicines stockpiling.”
She claimed that even if a deal could be agreed the UK faced “a loss of millions of pounds in research funding which could hit clinical trials”.
“The best way to avoid this damage to the health service is to remain in the EU,” she added.
The First Minister also stated that short of remaining in the EU, staying in the customs union and single market would be the next best course of action.
The Scottish Government is doing all it can to mitigate the expected damage Brexit could cause the NHS, she claimed.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel