For those of us in the dentistry profession, the outcome of Brexit and how we leave the EU will have a significant impact on a whole host of areas. This second part of our Brexit blog explores the workforce, professional qualifications, reciprocal healthcare and data sharing.
Read part one of our Brexit blog here.
Workforce
The dental industry, like the broader health sector, is heavily reliant on EU workers and if you are employing EU nationals within your practice you should ensure that they are registered with the EU Settlement Scheme should they intend to remain in the EU after the UK exits.
Through the EU Settlement Scheme, EU citizens will be able to register for ‘settled status’ in the UK if they have been here for 5 years or ‘pre-settled status’ if here for less time. This will guarantee their rights as EU citizens in the UK, their status and right to work. The government’s current guidelines advise EU citizens to apply for their right to remain by December 2020 even if the UK leaves with no deal. You can find out more via this website.
Professional Qualifications
In terms of professional regulation and professionals qualifications, the UK government has stated that professionals whose qualification has been recognised and registered in the UK before the UK leaves the EU will continue to be registered after this point.
Those that apply to have their qualification recognised before exiting the EU will have their application concluded under current arrangements. Professionals (including UK citizens) with EU/EEA or Swiss qualifications, who apply to have their qualification recognised after exiting the EU will have their applications processed under ‘future arrangements.’
Reciprocal healthcare
For those of you who have patients who are EU nationals, who may enquire about the status of their healthcare access after Brexit, the Government is currently seeking to protect reciprocal healthcare rights through bi-lateral transition agreements between EU member states.
However, no guarantees that EU nationals in the UK or UK nationals in the EU will not face some disruption or limitation to their access to healthcare should the UK leave the EU without an agreed deal.
Healthcare providers should also be prepared for a post-Brexit influx of UK nationals, should UK nationals living in the EU suddenly face disruption to their healthcare access and seek to return to the UK permanently. This may create greater strain on health provision but at present there is no way of knowing what these will be ahead of time.
Data sharing
The Government has declared that they believe it is ‘imperative’ that data continues to flow between UK, EU and EEA member states after the UK leaves the EU. For those dental practices that wish to ensure that they are on top of up-to-date guidance on data protection and date sharing, they can access Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) guidance here and Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) guidance here.
As Brexit develops and more information, guidance and advice is provided, Simplyhealth Professionals will be keeping all of our member dentists informed via the dashboard.
