Impact on the NHS and health of the UK's trade and cooperation relationship with the EU, and beyond

Abstract

The UK's relationship with the European Union (EU) is now embodied in two principal legal instruments: the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which formally entered into force on 1 May 2021; and the Withdrawal Agreement, with its Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, which continues to apply. Using a ‘building blocks’ framework for analysis of national health systems derived from the World Health Organisation, this article examines the likely impacts in the UK of this legal settlement on the National Health Service (NHS), health and social care. Specifically, we determine the extent to which the trade, cooperation and regulatory aspects of those legal measures support positive impacts for the NHS and social care. We show that, as there is clear support for positive health and care outcomes in only one of the 17 NHS ‘building blocks’, unless mitigating action is taken, the likely outcomes will be detrimental. However, as the legal settlement gives the UK a great deal of regulatory freedom, especially in Great Britain, we argue that it is crucial to track the effects of proposed new health and social care-related policy choices in the months and years ahead.

Health, Climate, Energy and Cyber: Transnational Areas, Limited Cooperation Ambitions?

“…In general, the TCA's provisions on global public health standards arguably demonstrate well the lack of ambition of the TCA, particularly considering that this treaty was negotiated in the midst of a global pandemic: health is conceptualised in the TCA mostly as a potential obstacle to trade. 42 As such, public health standards in a range of areas are permitted as exceptions to the implied benefits of the free trade consequent upon the TCA. The UK is no longer tied into EU standards, which increases domestic policy scope for regulation, and so impacts on health will depend on how those powers are deployed.…”

Changes in self-reported health and wellbeing outcomes in 36,951 primary school children from 2014 to 2022 in Wales: an analysis using annual survey data

“…They have also faced elevated risks of reduced access to medical care, poverty, and social isolation due to COVID-19 restrictions ( 15 ). These challenges have arisen in conjunction with the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union ( 16 ) and the current “cost of living crisis” ( 17 , 18 ), subsequently presenting significant obstacles for children and society’s support systems.…”

Changes in self-reported health and wellbeing outcomes in 36,951 primary school children from 2014 to 2022 in Wales: A descriptive analysis using annual survey data

“…They have also faced elevated risks of reduced access to medical care, poverty, and social isolation due to Covid-19 restrictions [15]. These challenges have arisen in conjunction with the UK's departure from the European Union [16] and the current "cost of living crisis" [17,18], subsequently presenting significant obstacles for children and society's…”