HOSPITALS, care homes, GPs, pharmacies and members of the public have been urged not to hoard medicines in case of a no-deal Brexit.

Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer said a crash-out was very likely to cause “a slow-down in the flow of medicines and medical supplies” to the UK because of delays at ports in the south of England.

However in a joint letter issued to health and social care providers, CMO Dr Catherine Calderwood and CPO Dr Rose Marie Parr, said stockpiling was to be avoided in case it made shortages worse.

The pair said centralised contingency measures should be relied on instead, such as UK-wide supplies of medicines and vaccines.

An “express freight” service could also transport packages and pallets into the UK at short notice, with planes ready to bring in items that could not be warehoused, such as radioisotopes.

SNP Health Secretary Jeanne Freeman said: “Brexit is a crisis created by the UK Government, made worse by their refusal to rule out a disastrous ‘no deal’ exit. The reality is the supply of medicines and medical devices to Scotland will be impacted if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, meaning there is a risk of shortages.

“As a responsible government we are doing all we can to prepare as much as possible for the consequences of ‘no deal’.

“If the UK leaves the EU without a deal and some shortages occur, the NHS will manage the situation and, if necessary, provide advice on suitable alternatives or other treatment options while supply is restored to normal levels.”