More than 130 staff working in the NHS across north and west Cumbria will be affected by Brexit.

These are just those employed in hospitals, mental health and community services.

Many others are working in social care, GP surgeries and the ambulance service.

It is still unclear exactly how leaving the European Union will affect health workers from EU countries.

Stephen Eames, who heads the health and care system in north Cumbria, said that with the Brexit deadline now just months away, it is something they are taking seriously and planning for.

He told the North Cumbria System Leadership Board: "We've got about 130 staff who are affected by this, who we are looking after.

"This is essential to our future. It's a very significant risk nationally and significant to us here."

Speaking at yesterday's meeting, he said the NHS is making contingency plans.

"I want to reassure people that we have got this in mind," he added.

"It's about staffing, but also things like the availability of drugs. We know the risks and think we will be able to manage them."

The 130 EU nationals he referred to currently work across the North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust and Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

Members of the board stressed that many others work for the North west Ambulance Service (NWAS), which has recruited a high number of paramedics from eastern Europe in recent years, and GP surgeries.

Jon Rush, from NHS North Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), added: "It also affects social care staff in some of our care homes. It's a big issue."