Yellowhammer Papers Reveal Risk Of Care Home Closures

GMB Union, which represents tens of thousands of care sector workers, reacted to the Operation Yellowhammer warning a No Deal Brexit risks closing care homes as even large providers may ‘fail’.

The document, only revealed by the Government after MPs voted to force its release, also shows the Government is fully aware of the ongoing care crisis.

‘The adult social care market is already fragile due to declining financial viability of providers.’

Before going on to warn that: ‘An increase in inflation following Eu exit would significantly impact adult social care providers due to increasing staff and support costs, and may lead to provider failure, with smaller providers impacted within 2 – 3 months and larger providers 4 – 6 months after exit’

The paper advises planning for potential closures and the handing back of contracts.

Tim Roache, GMB General Secretary said: “Care is in crisis, and this paper shows that the government is fully aware of that fact and just failing to act.

“Pre-election bribes firstly aren’t enough and secondly don’t tackle the underlying problems with in the care system.

“Now we see that the Prime Minister’s reckless pursuit of No Deal could mean closures in the already struggling sector.

“This shows the shambles of the entire system – on Brexit, on care, on how we look after the most vulnerable.

“This is complete and utter political failure on every imaginable front.”

‘Mini-deal’ needed to keep patients safe during Brexit

For immediate release: Thursday 12 September 2019

Responding to the publication of Operation Yellowhammer, Niall Dickson, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said:

“The Yellowhammer report underlines the fact that there are serious risks with a no-deal Brexit, with much uncertainty for patients, NHS staff and UK citizens living in EU countries.

“However, we believe the public should be reassured that very extensive preparations have been made for a no-deal outcome and that we’ve had assurances from government and industry that everything possible has been done to ensure the free flow of medicines and other supplies to the NHS.

“Of course, all this is avoidable if the UK government can agree a deal. At the very least we need the UK government and European Commission to agree a form of ‘mini-deal’ to keep both UK and EU patients safe and to enable essential health care supplies to continue to flow freely until future trade agreements have been agreed.”