Brexit could deepen the staffing crisis at our hospitals and accelerate plans to merge the two A&Es, a senior doctor has claimed.
Huddersfield Royal Infirmary was already struggling to recruit doctors and nurses and heavily relies on foreign staff, particularly from European Union countries such as Spain and France.
Now one doctor with a French passport has revealed his anger at the referendum result saying it felt like a “kick in the teeth” for his 17 years of dedication to the British healthcare system.
Consultant anaesthetist, Pnt Laloë, who works at both HRI and Calderdale Royal, said he felt “genuine anger” as the result came in at 5am a week ago.
And he has predicted it may force NHS bosses to fast-track their plans to downgrade emergency care in Huddersfield.
“As the full results came out, I felt angry,” he said.
“Genuine anger because I couldn’t understand the hatred that was directed towards me and other Europeans.
“How could 177,730 voters in the two councils that I serve think that being outside of the EU was better?
“Did they not want my services anymore?
“Do half of my patients resent me?
See how Yorkshire voted in the EU Referendum
“Do the voters of Calderdale and Kirklees not realise that their local healthcare services depend on Europe?”
Dr Laloë said 15% of the staff in his department were from the EU and a large amount of the equipment, drugs and clinical guidelines also hailed from the continent.
He said: “Some of the strongest pain killers I give to my patients are made in Italy, the anaesthetic machines are German, the catheters are French, the resuscitation guidelines are European.
“What do my patients want? For EU doctors to leave and one-in-six operation to get cancelled, causing waiting lists to sky rocket?
“Or did they want to halve the operating theatre capacity with the exit of all foreign healthcare staff?”
Dr Laloë, who also holds an American passport, said he won’t be applying for British one, despite spending almost half his life here.
He said: “Although I am still bewildered, I’m not angry anymore.
“I see the EU referendum result for what it truly is; a triumph of ignorance.
“Ignorance of the Brexit politicians who still don’t have a plan.
“Ignorance of the Leave voters who didn’t understand the implications of their vote.
“Ignorance of 177,730 local voters on what the impact will be on their healthcare services, our healthcare services.
“Our services are already stressed, staffing two full emergency departments just a few miles apart is unsustainable.
“The Brexit vote might just have accelerated events.
“Meanwhile, I’ll keep caring for all my patients with continued impartiality.
“Illness strikes us all, regardless of means, race, sexuality, education, age or beliefs.
“I still have two passports, and I won’t be applying for a British one.”
