A MAN with diabetes has told the BBC he would happily risk be able to access insulin if it meant the UK left the European Union.
Health leaders recently wrote to Boris Johnson to express “significant concerns” about a potential shortage of vital medical supplies in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
A letter to the UK prime minister from the heads of 17 royal colleges and charities warned of “a very real possibility that life-saving medication and devices” due to hold-ups at the border.
Currently, all analogue and synthetic human insulin is imported from outside of the UK.
While the three main manufacturers of Insulin have confirmed stockpiling has begun, the situation is one being closely monitored by outside sources amid concerns over a possible shortage.
But despite this looming threat, one man in Birmingham told the BBC this week that he would rather the UK government stuck to the Brexit deadline of October 31, even if it means leaving without a deal.
“I'm a diabetic. I rely on insulin, but I still want to leave,” he said.
The visibly shocked reporter responded: “If the insulin doesn't arrive, for you as a diabetic, you think that's a price worth paying?”
Welcome to the latest Brexit hot take: It'll still be worth it if it actually causes me to die. pic.twitter.com/UM6DAvpRli
— James Felton (@JimMFelton) September 19, 2019
The Brexiteer remained steadfast in his approach though, telling the reporter: “Yeah I do. Because we voted to leave.
“We didn't vote for a deal. We didn't vote for anything, we voted to leave Europe, right? And that's all we want, right?
“We're either a democracy, or we're not.”
This outlook will strike fear into the hearts of many over in Ireland, who are increasingly concerned that the UK government will leave without a deal.
A No Deal Brexit would leave the Irish border in disarray, resulting in trade disruption and, worse still, potential violence.
