A DISASTER FOR PATIENTS

Seven years ago the Tories led Scotland into a Brexit referendum that ultimately dragged us, against our will, out of Europe. This week we look at the catastrophic impact on our industries and services. Today, the crisis in our NHS..

- VIVIENNE AITKEN

SCOTLAND is facing a crisis in its National Health Service due to Covid and Tory austerity - but Brexit has caused further deadly delays in our hospitals.

Today, in the second day of our Broken Brexit series, the Daily Record reveals the full impact on the service, according to some of the country's leading health experts.

Dr Arianna Andreangeli has examined, in detail, the devastating pressure the split with Europe has placed on health boards across the country.

She contributed to the hugely influential Nuffield Report into the NHS's lack of preparedness for the break from Europe - and her verdict on the impact of Brexit on our health is damning.

In an exclusive interview with the Record, Dr Andreangeli tells how the NHS has further deteriorated since the Nuffield Report was written in 2020.

Access to state-of-the-art treatments in Europe have been denied to patients and, more importantly, the NHS in Scotland is now facing a recruitment crisis as EU nationals who want to work in the UK now face added barriers.

Dr Andreangeli said: "Health services fall within the principle that within the internal market there should be no impediment for services to be provided across borders.

She said many patients had previously travelled to Europe for treatments unavailable in the UK but since Brexit this is no longer an option for people in Scotland who have spent years on waiting lists.

Dr Andreangeli also highlighted the difficulties in attracting foreign staff and experts men and women who have historically been relied upon to hold our health service together. She said: "It used to be the case there was no barrier to access the UK jobs market for medical professionals.

"Even though there are exceptions to the rules in relation to visas and immigration for very highly skilled individuals, the process is far more cumbersome.