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Operation Yellowhammer: no-deal Brexit could ‘significantly impact’ adult social care providers
A no-deal Brexit could result in the failure of some adult social care providers, according to a document the government has been forced to publish.
The Operation Yellowhammer document said an increase in inflation following Britain leaving the EU would “significantly impact” adult social care providers due to extra staff and supply costs.
After the leaving the EU, increased costs could lead to provider failure, with small providers being impacted within two to three months and four to six months for larger providers, the government predicts.
It said that the adult social care market is “already fragile” and predicted this fragility could be exacerbated by disruption to transport and staff, severe winter weather or the flu.
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Earlier this week, MPs voted in favour of forcing the government to publish the document which outlines its “worst-case planning assumptions” under Operation Yellowhammer, the code name used for no-deal Brexit planning.
The document, dated 2 August 2019, also predicts that riots on the streets, increased food prices and medicine shortages could be possible if Britain is to leave the EU without a deal.
The government said intelligence was being gathered to prepare for any impacts to the social care sector.
According to the document, the Department of Health and Social Care has been looking into the status of no-deal preparations in the adult social care sector in four local authorities, which have been identified as a priority concern.
A government spokesperson said: “Our priority is to make sure people continue to receive the highest standards of care and have access to the medicines they need when we leave the EU on 31 October, whatever the circumstances.
“We are working across government, local government and with national partners to do everything appropriate to prepare.
“People using care services can be reassured that our plans should help minimise the impact of exiting the EU on the health and care system.”
