A no deal Brexit would be “catastrophic” for the NHS and harm the fight against deadly illnesses like cancer, Scotland’s top doctors have warned.

A hair-raising briefing paper from the British Medical Association (BMA) outlined the damage the health service would suffer if the UK crashes out of the European Union without a deal.

They said the doomsday scenario would leave Britain more at risk to outbreaks of deadly infectious diseases, delay the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and make it harder for the NHS to recruit highly skilled staff.

The unprecedented warnings from medical experts will ratchet up the pressure on Prime Minister Theresa May to face down the hard Brexiteers on her backbenches and restore sanity to the Brexit negotiations.

The BMA says leaving the EU with no deal would make it harder to recruit highly skilled staff

The BMA had already produced a number of briefings outlining the negative consequences of Brexit on the NHS and the nation’s health.

But with the growing risk of a no deal they have now highlighted the implications of what they consider the worst case scenario.

The conclusions include:

  • Delays for diagnosis and treatment of cancer because the UK will be outside the EURATOM agreement for sharing vital radioactive isotopes.
  • Major disruption for almost one million patients receiving treatment for rare diseases as the UK would be excluded from the European Rare Disease Network.
  • No reciprocal healthcare agreements would see 190,000 UK state pensioners who live in the EU forced to return home for treatment costing between £500 million and £1 billion per year.
  • Fewer essential medical staff recruited from the EU into an already experiencing a staffing crisis.

Chair of BMA Scotland Dr Peter Bennie said: “The BMA has spent a great deal of time pointing out the many areas that give doctors cause for concern with Brexit and its implications.

“Given the ongoing major uncertainty and the lack of any apparent progress on these issues, it has become clear to the BMA that the risks of Brexit for the nation’s health are sharply increasing.

“Doctors are increasingly alarmed by the ongoing failure to secure the kind of deal which will work to the benefit of patients, the medical workforce and health services in Scotland, across the UK and Europe .”

Dr Bennie said the doctors did not use the word “catastrophic” lightly and insisted the paper showed what a dangerous situation the UK now finds itself in.

Anas Sarwar says the Tories need to work on a deal that 'protects our country'

He added: “For example, without a deal we risk losing quick and effective access to medical radioisotopes, that are vital for diagnosing particular diseases through nuclear medicine imaging techniques, treatment of cancer through radiotherapy, as well as palliative relief of pain.

“They cannot be stockpiled like other medicines. With the delays and uncertainty this may cause to such vital treatment, it is not hard to see why a no-deal Brexit is such a concern.

“A no-deal Brexit would also pose risks to supply and regulation of medicines. It would threaten vital health research. It could cut off at source the vital numbers of doctors coming to work in our NHS and bolster the care it provides – at a time when our workforce is already pushed the limit.

“It is only right that, with the chances of a no-deal Brexit increasing the closer the we get to the deadline for a deal, we as doctors point out exactly what that would mean for patients and care in Scotland.

“That is why we believe the public need to be given the final say on plans for Brexit – in particular if the option we are faced with is a hugely damaging, no-deal Brexit.”

Scottish Labour health spokesman Anas Sarwar said: “It’s time for the Tories to take Britain back from the cliff edge and start working towards a deal that protects our country, not a disorderly exit which will clearly harm it.”