| Yes, I know what you’re thinking. Brexit and IVF?? If you are like me you are tired of hearing the daily updates on Brexit. Its everywhere we look, the internet, smart phone alerts, TV and radio. Can Brexit be meddling with IVF too? As a clinic CRGW have had to consider arrangements for when the UK leaves the EU without any deal in October 2019 as part of our business continuity arrangements. What could happen? A no deal Brexit could impact the supply of medicines, medical devices, clinical consumables, media and other products of human origin including reproductive cells like imported donor sperm. There could also be problems with the supply of non-clinical consumables, goods and services. There could be impact and delays at the UK border particularly at Dover and Folkstone; and the assumption is that there will be significantly reduced access there for up to six months. What have CRGW done to prepare? |
CRGW have prepared for a no-deal scenario as part of our Business Continuity Plan (BCP). We have adopted a ‘reasonable worst case’ mindset in updating this BCP by undertaking an assessment of the risks to the supply of all essential supplies: medicines, media, gases, consumables, and equipment parts in relation to the safety of patients, gametes, embryos, and staff.
We have contacted all suppliers to CRGW from around Europe and further afield and have received reassuring responses from all parties that our suppliers are preparing also by carrying several months worth more of stock or moving supplies to a UK base in the short term if they are currently based outside the UK.
In summary then, we don’t at this point see any effect of Brexit on our services and our assessment has reassured us that treatments will continue without effect either. We will update you if necessary as things become clearer when we all finally find out how Brexit will pan out.
September 20th 2019 update: As the uncertainty continues we have made an update to our assessment on the following items:
Things: We do rely on imports of goods to undertake aspects of our work but have fully assessed this and having been reassured currently see no risk or required current action.
Services: We will continue to meet EU standards of quality and safety regardless of the EU Exit outcome
Workforce: Our capacity is not affected as we have no EU nationals in our workforce.
Data flows: All of our data flows are within the UK
Policies and procedures: Our EU exit planning, started some time ago and aside from the uncertainty we are confident that we have assessed our own risks and readiness, and are working collaboratively with suppliers to mitigate apparent risks.
People: We believe we are up to date with communication to third party suppliers
Contracts: We currently have no contracts that are impacted by EU exit.
Funding / costs: We have identified no funding / cost issues over the short to medium term.