SLA\'s To Ensure Continuity In Cross-Border Services In Case Of No-Deal Brexit

As reported by Valerie Ryan in the Irish Medical Times, it is not anticipated that there will be any break in services across the 30 Service Level Agreements currently in place with Northern Ireland in the event of a no-Brexit deal. This is according to both Department of Health and Health Service Executive (HSE) officials.

The Service Level Agreements between the two jurisdictions cover high profile programmes, including the 25-year agreement with the cancer centre in Altnagelvin in Northern Ireland and the primary percutaneous coronary intervention, providing an essential service for patients from Donegal.

In addition to the clinical programmes operating for patients both sides of the border, Department of Health and HSE officials have travelled to the United Kingdom to seek assurance that the current round of EU North South funding, known as Interreg, would be secured until the end of the programme of funding in 2020.

To “Brexit-proof” the current arrangements, an INTERREG 5A €30 million project was underpinned by Her Majesty’s Treasury, Health Committee members heard at their latest meeting to consider the potential impact of Brexit.