Doctors reveal the 6 ways a no deal Brexit could be 'catastrophic' for the NHS and leave the UK facing a greater risk of deadly pandemics

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A no deal Brexit could be 'catastrophic' for the NHS and leave Britain facing a greater risk of deadly pandemics, according to leading medics.

The British Medical Association, the union for doctors, also fears failing to agree trade terms could deepen the NHS workforce crisis and disrupt millions of patients. 

In a new report today, the 160,000-strong union revealed six ways the ever-growing likelihood of a no deal Brexit would impact the health of the UK:  

• Cause disruption for almost a million patients receiving treatment for rare diseases
• Cause delays in diagnosis and treatment for cancer patients
• End reciprocal healthcare agreements which could disrupt patient care and increase insurance costs
• Weaken the UK’s response to pandemics and increase the chances of diseases spreading because it would lose partnerships with key EU bodies, such as the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
• Risk the return of a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, which could see doctors leaving the profession and patients having to travel miles to receive care
• See fewer doctors and other medical staff, at a time when there are already huge shortages of these roles 

Britain's deadline to leave the EU is March 2019, however fears are growing the country will crash out of the bloc without a deal, scuppering plans of a 21-month transition period.

Brussels has dismissed parts of Theresa May's proposed terms, which would mean accepting EU rules for goods and collecting some tariffs on behalf of the bloc. But other terms have been agreed, including letting Britain sign new trade deals.

Dr Chaand Nagpaul, BMA council chair, denied it was scaremongering about the effects of Brexit and warned it was 'being honest about what is at stake'.

In a new briefing paper published today, Dr Chaand Nagpaul, BMA council chair, said failing to agree trade terms could deepen the NHS workforce crisis

NHS chief Simon Stevens has already admitted that Britain is preparing to stockpile drugs and equipment to ensure hospitals can function, if a no deal is reached. 

Dr Nagpaul said: 'A "no deal' could have potentially catastrophic consequences for patients, the health workforce, services and the nation’s health.

'The UK Government has finally started planning to ensure the health sector and industry are prepared in the short term for a no deal Brexit.

'But this is too little, too late and quite frankly, proof the impact on the NHS has not received the attention it deserves in the Brexit negotiations.'

Dr Nagpaul added: 'Some will say we are scaremongering by warning of the dangers of a "no deal" Brexit, but this is not the case. 

'We aren’t shying away from being honest about what is at stake for health services if the UK and the EU fail to reach a deal. 

Fears Britain will crash out of the bloc without a deal have grown as Theresa May's Chequers plan is facing massive resistance

'As experts in delivering health services and providing care for our patients, we have a duty to set out the consequences of leaving the EU with no future deal in place.'  

Doctors have repeatedly been accused of ignoring the will of thousands of patients by calling for a vote on the final Brexit deal.

A motion passed at the British Medical Association’s annual conference in June in Brighton called to oppose leaving the EU.

The union, which has 160,000 members, supported the UK remaining in the single market, and publicly stated concerns that Brexit 'poses a major threat to the NHS and the nation’s health'.  

The Royal College of Nursing and Royal College of Midwives have also supported calls for the public to have a final say on Brexit.

But Tory Eurosceptics have claimed medics should focus on their own patients and the future of the NHS rather than meddling in politics. 

MP Andrew Bridgen previously said the motion by the British Medical Association ignored what patients had already voted for.

He said at the time: 'The old adage is not true – doctors don’t always know best. We’ve had a referendum, the result was clear.'

‘Once we’ve left, if the doctors or anyone else want to campaign to get us back in, I’ll wish them all the best but I’ll be opposing them.

'I think they should get on with reforming the NHS. They need to be talking about that and giving better value for money, not Brexit.'

Jacob Rees-Mogg MP also claimed the vote showed doctors have no confidence in their patients.   

A secret report drawn up by the EU and unearthed earlier this week revealed a no deal Brexit would be worse for the bloc than Britain. 

European Commission chiefs have drawn up plans for the 28-member union to step in to keep trade open.

The Latvian foreign minister yesterday claimed the chances of a 'no deal' Brexit are 50-50 - but the PM's Chequers blueprint could break the deadlock.

Edgars Rinkēvičs warned of the growing potential for a collapse in negotiations as he met Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt in Riga.

Meanwhile, Mr Hunt warned the EU that failure to reach a compromise would be a 'huge strategic mistake'. 

But he also conceded that there would be a 'significant short-term impact' on UK financial markets if no agreement could be reached.