UK has much to lose by leaving EU

First of all, the impact on the economy is likely to compromise the promise of increased NHS funding, whereas the negative impact on the numbers of doctors and nurses from the EU will be felt, bearing in mind the already significant numbers of vacant posts.

And isn’t the EU an effective way of reducing administrative costs by creating a single European Medicines Agency, which also avoids delays in the registration of any new medications?

Euratom also seems to have done a good job and the Royal College of Radiologists is concerned about continued access to medical isotopes used for diagnosis and treatment, when we leave the EU.

As a doctor I recognise that the EU has been at the forefront of the process of improving the quality of the air we breathe, which has a significant impact on our health.

After Brexit, holidaymakers will lose the current reciprocal health care arrangements, whereas our academic institutions will suffer due to a loss of European funding and collaborative opportunities for research.

Many of us are also quite grateful for the fact that the limits on safe working hours were introduced as a result of EU legislation.

I would urge readers to attend the North East for Europe march for Sunderland on October 6.

Dr Giuseppe Enrico

Bignardi