Now NHS boss speaks out on Brexit risks
"When the British economy sneezes, the NHS catches a cold," was the stark warning as the boss of the NHS waded into the Brexit debate on Sunday morning.
The chief executive of the National Health Service Simon Stevens was appearing on the BBC's Andrew Marr show to discuss its financial problems after new figures last week revealed that its deficit has hit a new record high.
He said it would be "very damaging" if the economy went into a "tailspin" just as the NHS needed it.
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While he said it was not his position to tell people how to vote, "it is perfectly reasonable for the NHS itself, when asked, to lay out the balance of the advantage in an objective, non-sensational way".
"If Mark Carney is right, then that is a severe concern for the National Health Service, because it would be very dangerous if at precisely the moment the NHS is going to need extra funding, actually the economy goes into a tailspin and that funding is not there. When the British economy sneezes, the NHS catches a cold and this would be a terrible moment for that to happen at precisely the time the NHS is going to need extra investment."
He added that there was no indication that the NHS would gain from the savings made on EU membership.
The Bank of England governor Mark Carney was accused of overstepping the mark in recent weeks with unprecedented comments on the potential short-term impact on the economy if Britain votes to leave the EU in the upcoming referendum which is just five weeks away.
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Speaking on ITV's Peston on Sunday show, the Prime Minister David Cameron said the country wanted to hear from people such as Carney and Stevens.
Pro-Leave campaigner Lord Owen said Stevens should "stick to his lathe", on the BBC's Sunday Politics show.
"So Simon Stevens should better stick to his lathe… his basic job is to look after the NHS, something he's making a considerable mess of," he said.
Last week Leave campaigner and justice secretary Michael Gove warned that remaining in Europe would put "unsustainable" pressure on the NHS because of the influx of migrants from across Europe.