A CAMPAIGN group has revealed what it calls the “terrifying” Brexit plans of an NHS trust.

It says Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust could be “unable to deliver services” if a no-deal Brexit goes ahead.

A spokeswoman said it could cause a shortage of EU staff and pharmaceutical products.

She said this would lead to an “impact on patient safety, staff health and wellbeing and the trust’s performance”.

In March hospitals were ordered not to discuss any damage they expect to suffer from Brexit by the Department of Health and Social Care. But anti-Brexit campaign group Best For Britain sent 150 Freedom of Information requests to NHS foundation trusts across the country and received responses from 36, including the one in Sussex.

Interim chief executive of Best For Britain Naomi Smith said: “It’s no wonder the Government didn’t want local hospitals releasing these Brexit planning documents.

“They’re terrifying and highlight the scale of damage to our local communities that would be caused by a no-deal Brexit.

“No-deal may have hit the news less recently, but these documents show that the spectre of Brexit still looms large over our NHS.

“We cannot allow our local hospitals to collapse under the strain of this ideological project.

“That’s why the public need to be given the final say on Brexit, with the option to stay and strengthen our treasured NHS.”

In a statement, Best For Britain described its investigation as the “most in-depth look into local hospital Brexit planning to date”.

In its study, 43 of the trusts refused to respond.

Lloyd Russell-Moyle, Labour MP for Kemptown, said: “This is a damning indictment of the Government and its project to leave the EU without a plan, showing the extreme pressures facing Britain’s hospitals if Brexit goes ahead.

“We shouldn’t be in a situation where hospitals in the South East and across the country are scared about staffing levels and potentially having to scale back on vital services in order to stay afloat.

“These documents show that Brexit presents a real threat to patient care in the UK.

“The only deal that protects the NHS is our current one as part of the EU.

“That’s why I’m backing a final say over any deal Parliament can agree on.”

A Best For Britain statement said most hospital groups that responded highlighted “staffing shortages, damage to supply of medicine and uncertainty around future research projects as areas of particular concern”.