Oh.
Post-Brexit Britain is seemingly under 'significant threat' from infection disease unless the government can work out a way to mediate health relationship between health bodies in the UK and EU. How ironic.
The Evening Standard reports that "Britain is said to be under 'significant threat' from such diseases after Brexit if the government doesn’t work out a way of maintaining a close working relationship with European health bodies."
The fear is that once the UK has left the European Union, maintaining a close working relationship will grow more difficult. However, considering the UK's close proximity to mainland Europe, with lots of travel options both ways, the chances for infections to travel are high.
“At the moment our strongest concern is the huge level of uncertainty. We are just not clear where this is all going to land," Niall Dickson, CEO of the NHS, told the newspaper.
“The only positive is that we can say this is not only about UK patients, it is about European patients who would be affected as well.
“It is in everyone’s interest to maximise cooperation. Diseases do not recognise borders.
“We need to put political interests behind the interests of patients in the EU and UK.”
Tracking outbreaks will require collaboration between the UK and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
However, if Brexit talks remain sour, this may not actually be realistic.
