HEALTH and social care services could suffer as highly-skilled EU staff shun Scotland because of Brexit, the health secretary will warn MSPs today.

Shona Robison will use a Holyrood debate to highlight the risk caused by uncertainty over citizenship status.

Approximately 1,400 doctors working in Scotland are from other EU countries, as well as 4 per cent of nurses and midwives and 2 per cent of trainee dentists.

Read more: UK facing £25bn "Brexit black hole" with austerity beyond 2020, think tank warns

Ms Robison said: “Medical professionals from all over the world have played a vital and valued part in our NHS for decades.

“The fact the UK Government can’t give simple assurances that they will be welcome to stay in this country if we leave the EU is, frankly, unacceptable.”

Ms Robison said Brexit could affect the recognition of other states’ medical qualifications, workers’ rights, research work, and Scots’ access to state healthcare across Europe.

Meanwhile, Nicola Sturgeon last night claimed the 52-48 vote for Brexit across the UK was not a “meaningful democratic mandate” to restrict EU migration in a hard Brexit.

Read more: UK facing £25bn "Brexit black hole" with austerity beyond 2020, think tank warns

Speaking in Sheffield, she said: “I completely accept there was a narrow majority in Wales and England for leaving the EU. However I don’t believe it can be concluded that there was a majority anywhere for leaving the single market.

“When the UK Government negotiates to leave the EU, single market membership should be sought as a priority. Some parts of that - such as retaining freedom of movement - will not satisfy everyone. However there is no ideal solution which does satisfy everyone.”

The argument is completely at odds with Theresa May, who said last month: “Let me be clear. We are not leaving the EU only to give up control of immigration again.”

Read more: UK facing £25bn "Brexit black hole" with austerity beyond 2020, think tank warns

Ms Sturgeon also urged Chancellor Philip Hammond to slow deficit reduction in his autumn statement, saying austerity had failed "categorically and comprehensively".