The implications for Wales of Britain exiting the European Union

Key recommendations

• The UK and Welsh governments should prioritise action around the implications of Brexit on the health and social care workforce, medical research, public health and NHS finance. 
• EU nationals working in the NHS must be able to stay in the UK and continue to deliver excellent care for patients.
• The current workforce crisis facing the NHS must not be exacerbated by restricting non-UK doctors from working in the NHS.
• Migration rules must not adversely impact on the supply of care workers.
• The UK’s withdrawal from the EU must not affect patients’ ability to participate in high quality research and clinical trials. Patients must continue to access innovative new technologies.
• Workforce pressures must not be allowed to have a negative effect on the time available to doctors to conduct clinical research. Restrictions on the mobility of researchers and clinicians may add further pressures.
• The UK must retain access to FP9 funding, in addition to regional development funds, facilities and bursaries.
• The UK must retain the ability to influence European legislation on research.
• Frameworks that underpin health protection must be replaced by equivalent or even stronger safeguards.
• The UK must have continued access to European structures and networks that provide effective surveillance of health threats.