Government and NHS chiefs have set up a "war room" to deal with a No Deal Brexit in a major escalation of crisis plans for Britain.

The new ‘Operational Response Centre’ was revealed today in a 34-page plan "sneaked out" days before Christmas, while MPs are away on holiday.

Today’s plan also warns doctors and nurses could have to cancel holidays as hospitals and surgeries battle to cope with a no-deal withdrawal on March 29.

No Deal could "increase demand", the document says. It is understood this refers to UK expats having to return to Britain for treatment – if, as chiefs fear, reciprocal free care in EU nations is not negotiated in time.

And NHS staff will be "directed" to urge patients not to stockpile medicines personally to avoid shortages throughout the system.

It comes as No 10 beefs up preparations across government for the UK to crash out of the EU without a pact at 11pm on 29 March 2019.

Theresa May faces an uphill struggle to force her deal through the Commons mid opposition from Tory backbenchers and the DUP.

If no deal is agreed, 3,500 troops will be "at readiness" and the NHS will have access to a chartered plane to fly in short-shelf-life medical supplies.

The ORC has already been set up, tonight’s document says.

It will be headed up by Health Secretary Matt Hancock and be supported by NHS England bosses, Public Health England and NHS Improvement.

A Whitehall source branded it a "No Deal war room sat at the heart of the department."

Tonight’s document calls on all “providers” to draw up detailed plans by the end of January.

They will need to “review capacity and activity plans, as well as annual leave, on call and command and control arrangements around the 29 March 2019”, adding: “At this point there is no ask to reduce capacity or activity around this time.”

On the supply of vital drugs and vaccines, it says “All health and adult social care providers” should “direct staff to promote messages of continuity and reassurance to people who use health and care services, including that they should not store additional medicines at home”.

The "extraordinary" advice prompted a furious response from campaigning doctor Rachel Clarke, who tweeted: "We are doctors, Mrs May. We do facts, not spin."

Revealing the new “war room”, the document goes on: “In preparation for a ‘no deal’ exit, the Department, with the support of NHS England and Improvement, and Public Health England, has set up a national Operational Response Centre.

“This will lead on responding to any disruption to the delivery of health and care services in England, that may be caused or affected by EU Exit.

“The Operational Response Centre will co-ordinate EU Exit-related information flows and reporting across the health and care system.”

The document confirms chiefs are bracing for "significantly reduced access" across the Dover-Calais crossing "for up to six months".

Medicines will be "prioritised" in transit to "ensure the flow of all these products will continue unimpeded".

Pharmacists will be allowed to block or tweak GPs’ prescriptions to conserve drugs under a ‘Serious Shortage Protocol’.

And "arrangements are also likely to be put in place to monitor the unnecessary export of medicines", the document says.

But individual NHS bodies and members of the public are being ordered not to stockpile medicines themselves.

Instead six-week stockpiles are expected to be held by the industry.

Critics accuse the Government of a trying to rerun “project fear” in a bid to scare Tory rebels into backing Mrs May’s deal.

And there was anger at the advice being published late on the Friday before Christmas.

Shadow Health and Social Care Secretary Jon Ashworth said: “Yet again ministers have sneaked out deeply worrying news hoping to avoid scrutiny and debate.

“We now know a chaotic Tory no-deal Brexit will have devastating consequences for the NHS.

“Patients will want to know how much cash is being spent on these preparations including the buying of fridges and possibly even chartering planes – this is money that is sorely needed on the NHS frontline this winter.

“While the NHS descends into winter crisis again, health ministers are demanding staff ‘promote messages of reassurance to patients’.

“If anyone should be promoting a message of reassurance it should be the Secretary of State and he could start by ruling out this irresponsible chaotic, no-deal Brexit.”

Read More

Latest Brexit news

Source: Read Full Article