BMA calls for unity across NHS following Brexit vote

The British Medical Association (BMA) has called for NHS workers to adopt a spirit of unity following the recent vote for the UK to leave the European Union.

Responding to the outcome of the June 23rd Brexit referendum, the BMA has affirmed its commitment to working with European partners and the EU on health initiatives, while joining with NHS England to show its support for NHS staff from European countries on social media.

With estimates suggesting that 55,000 out of the 1.2 million NHS staff are EU citizens, the BMA has urged everyone involved in the health service to make sure these workers continue to feel valued and welcome.

BMA council chair Mark Porter said: "We stand together as one profession with our colleagues from Europe and across the world, with whom we live, work and study and on whom the NHS depends."

The association has also hit out at claims made by the Leave campaign that quitting the EU would bring billions of pounds of extra cash into the NHS – assertions on which Brexit-affiliated politicians now appear to backtracking.

Dr Porter said the claims were "beyond irresponsible", saying the alleged promise has been proven to be based on "fantasy figures".