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WQ.376/2019
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES BY DEPUTY K.G. PAMPLIN OF ST. SAVIOUR
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 10th SEPTEMBER 2019
Question
Will the Minister provide an overview of the provisions in place to manage the impact within his portfolio from 31st October 2019 of Brexit, whether or not a deal has been agreed between the U.K. and the E.U., detailing what worst case' scenarios have been anticipated?
Answer
Prior to 29 March 2019, the Health & Community Services Department (HCS) had established a comprehensive Day 1 No Deal (D1ND) Brexit Readiness Plan. Following the UK government obtaining an extension from the European Council until 31st October 2019 for Britain's exit from the EU, HCS has maintained and improved its resilience and contingency plan and has prepared for a worst case scenario of a No Deal exit from the EU.
Medicines
All medicines used in Jersey are sourced via the UK supply chain. The HCS department has been liaising with the UK DHSC (Department of Health & Social Care) regarding the supply of medicines. The DHSC advised HCS in November 2018 that as part of its D1ND contingency preparations it was consulting with the pharmaceutical industry and had requested that the pharmaceutical industry increase its actual stock holding of medicines physically in the UK by an additional 6 weeks over and above its normal business as usual' stock levels. This additional stock would act as a reserve to feed into the normal UK supply chain in the event that importation of medicines from the EU to the UK is disrupted. This continues to be the case to the present day.
At the same time, the DHSC issued a directive that all UK hospitals, pharmaceutical wholesalers and community pharmacies were not to stockpile medicines as this would create considerable disruption within the existing supply chain and the availability of medicines could become critically reduced. It confirmed that this also applied to the Crown Dependencies and Devolved Administrations and provided assurance that the Crown Dependencies were included as part of its planning and would have equal access to all medicines in the UK supply chain, including the additional stock held by the pharmaceutical industry. This DHSC position has remained unchanged.
Medical & Pathology Supplies and Medical Device spare parts
On 13 February 2019, the DHSC authorised the Crown Dependencies to increase their stocks of medical supplies & devices/parts. HCS has identified through its Brexit Operational Group the volume requirements of additional supplies and equipment, and has completed this process in readiness for an October 31 D1ND:
- 6 weeks of core stock supplies on top of 2 weeks baseline stock – achieved
- 4 weeks of medical gases on top of 4 weeks baseline stock – achieved
- 4 weeks of wards/departments non-stock medical supplies (specific items) on top of 4 weeks baseline stock – achieved
- 4 weeks general pathology supplies on top of 4 weeks baseline stock – achieved
- as is customary and with the agreement of the DHSC, due to our geographical isolation and possible seasonal weather disruptions to our ferry services for an autumnal D1ND, HCS has maintained its winter stock levels of medicines (various volumes dependent on demand).
Jersey obtains all its medicines and nearly all medical & pathology supplies from the UK, mostly via sea freight from Portsmouth. The Department for Transport (DfT) has stated that UK ports may experience significant disruption following a D1ND Brexit of up to 6 months, with the most severe period being the first 3 months. HCS has in addition to the above contingencies planned for worst case scenarios and undertaken the following additional measures:
- In the event of sea freight disruption, Medicines and all Medical Supplies have been given Category 1 priority status to all Channel Islands freight capacity. This means HCS supplies will be prioritised in order to maintain our supply chain throughout the anticipated period of disruption.
- In the unlikely but possible event that the sea freight supply chain is unable to maintain demand (i.e. reduced number of sailings), HCS has established air freight contingencies for all goods.
- In addition, as part of HCS Brexit D1ND preparations, it was noted that within the Emergency Powers & Planning Law (EPPL) there is no competent authority for medicines and medical supplies unlike food, utilities etc. An amendment to the law including provisions for medicines and medical supplies has been lodged by the Chief Minister. This will provide the Island with a further level of comfort should an emergency response be required in relation to medicines and medical supplies via the instruction of the island's Emergency Council.
HCS will continue to maintain its current advanced state of readiness and continually monitors Brexit developments.