House of Commons publishes Brexit health and social care Bill

The House of Commons has this week published Brendan O’Hara MP’s European Union Withdrawal (Evaluation of Effects on Health and Social Care Sectors) Bill. This private member’s bill was introduced on behalf of Camphill Scotland, the ALLIANCE (Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland), SCVO and our partners totalling 87 organisations across the UK. The Bill is based on an Amendment to the Brexit legislation tabled by Joanna Cherry MP which was narrowly defeated in the House of Commons, and was subsequently tabled by Lord Stephen and by Baroness Jolly for further consideration in the House of Lords.

Read the Bill 

The Bill will be formally debated on 25 January 2019 in the House of Commons.

By way of further background, the Bill would require the UK Government to make arrangements for an independent evaluation of the impact of the Act and Brexit upon the health and social care sector across the 4 Nations to be made after consulting the Scottish Ministers, the Welsh Ministers and the relevant Northern Ireland department, service providers, those requiring health and social care services, and others.

We believe the Bill is necessary to determine the full impact of Brexit upon the health and social care sector across the 4 Nations, including the care and support for children and young people, for people with disabilities, with long term conditions and with other support needs. This, in turn, will help to ensure that the strategic planning and decision making of Governments, local authorities, the third sector, unions, the health and social care sector and other key agencies across the UK, in relation to the impact of Brexit on the health and social care sector in their respective nations, is fully informed and shaped by robust evidence.

Organisations wishing to support the Bill should contact Robert McGeachy, Policy and Engagement Manager.

Camphill Scotland will be providing a template letter which its members and supporters of Camphill in Scotland, and supporters of the Bill will be able to send to their local MP to request that they support Brendan O’Hara’s Bill.