PLANS for how to cope with a “mass casualty situation” have been put on hold for Brexit.

NHS papers revealed it is likely an event could occur and the consequences would be extreme but details of how to move or care for vulnerable people, such as those in hospices, have not been finalised.

The report comes from the Mid and South Essex Sustainability and Transformation Partnership.

The health organisation has to consider how likely an event is and how severe the consequences would be before multiplying them together to give a risk score.

Ten or above is high risk with the chance of a major incident scoring 15.

Despite this the paper suggests details of what to do to help those it is most difficult to move still have to be finalised with the ambulance service still to “consider alternative or additional transport arrangements for use in a mass casualty situation”.

If these risks are not addressed, the committee papers say that the impact would be “local health care providers being significantly challenged in terms of their capacity to respond to the demands posed by the incident”.

Professor Mike Bewick, chairman of he joint committee for clinical commissioning groups, said: “All NHS organisations and healthcare providers have plans and processes in place for responding effectively to a wide range of incidents that could impact on health or patient care.

“These could be anything from prolonged period of severe pressure, extreme weather conditions, an outbreak of an infectious disease, or a major transport accident.

“These plans are tested regularly and reviewed regularly, which is currently being undertaken to incorporate preparations for EU exit, which is what is referred to in this report.”

Those involved in the emergency services have been tasked to assess what will change and whether the plans will work following Brexit but without knowing what deals will be struck leaving emergency plans in flux.

The details are outlined in the risk register.

Following a final decision on Brexit, all councils and emergency services will be required to consider the impact of the final arrangements.

Residents have been urged not to panic as this is a review of the plans and more reviews will be taking place to highlight any gaps or problems.