Public’s health at risk with no deal Brexit

The Faculty of Public Health has published a letter expressing concerns over the increasing likelihood of a no deal Brexit and the risk this poses for the public's health and well-being.

Published in the Guardian, the FPH has joined 28 other organisations in reporting that long-term improvement in life expectancy has slowed, and for some age groups, gone into reverse, whilst the most vulnerable in our population face growing insecurity of income, employment and even food. The collaboration believes that all of these would be exacerbated by a no deal Brexit.

The letter urges the government to confirm its continued commitment to public health protections and standards as Britain leaves the EU, recognising that leaving without a deal is incompatible with its commitment to ‘do no harm’, as well as publish all assessments it has undertaken of the impact of different Brexit scenarios on health and establish a system for monitoring any impacts of Brexit on health going forward.

Maggie Rae, President of the Faculty of Public Health said “Our key message is centred around the principle of ‘Do No Harm’. The health and well-being consequences of a no deal Brexit are a major concern. I’m thankful to our partners across the sector in raising this message and asking the government to confirm its commitment to public health protections and standards as we leave the EU. Government should honour the ‘Do No Harm’ commitments and publish assessments of the impact of no deal Brexit on health and well-being and establish a monitoring system for health and well-being impacts going forward.”