Older people still facing Brexit uncertainty
Age Scotland is calling for an end to the uncertainty around key issues that will affect older people following Brexit.
Ahead of the transition period that will shape Britain’s future relationship with the EU, Age Scotland has compiled a set of priorities which must be resolved urgently by the UK Government in order to offer protection and security to older people living in Scotland.
The charity wants assurances that the hard-pressed health and social care sector, which employs around 17,000 EU nationals in Scotland, will not be crippled by further staff shortages as a result of any changes to immigration rules.
Brexit is expected to exacerbate existing staff shortages in health and social care, putting additional pressure on Scotland’s hospital and community health services. Attracting staff from the EU post-Brexit, when they no longer have preferential status, could be an issue if they are excluded by income thresholds keeping out low paid staff.
Age Scotland are also seeking assurances that supply and access to medicines will not be hampered by Brexit, and that tens of thousands of Scotland’s oldest and most vulnerable people will not be affected by potentially life-threatening shortages.
For the 8,360 over 65s from other EU countries who call Scotland home, the charity want assurances that they will not be penalised if they are unable to complete the application for Settled Status by the deadline on December 31, 2020.
Older Scots living in the EU also face uncertainty over residency and healthcare rights. Those with health conditions may find private health insurance difficult to obtain or prohibitively expensive, if they previously relied on their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for medical cover. Should they choose to return to the UK following Brexit, the government will need to swiftly provide access to housing, care and other support they might need.
Brian Sloan, chief executive of Age Scotland, said:
“As the UK formally leaves the EU, there are far too many unanswered questions about the impact of Brexit on Scotland’s older and most vulnerable people.
"We're really pleased that the First Minister took time this week to hear our concerns and we are reassured that the Scottish Government is working to do everything they can to assist. However, there has been a deafening silence from the UK Government and Scotland Office to our requests for meetings to discuss outstanding questions.
“Our health and social care sectors, which rely heavily on staff from the EU, are already struggling to cope with rising demand, yet we could face a worsening situation if EU workers choose to leave Scotland or future care staff cannot come to work here because they won’t earn enough.
“Many others are concerned about supplies of essential medicines and the cost of food, should shortages arise.
“Meanwhile thousands of older EU citizens and Scottish citizens living abroad could be thrown into limbo, struggling to complete the required documentation in time or worried about their social security and pension entitlements in an EU country post-Brexit.
“We want reassurance from the UK Government on all of those issues and more. We need to ensure that older people are protected from abuse and neglect. We want to know that older people will not have their rights eroded or their lives blighted as a result of Brexit.”
