NHS experts in Worcester have today warned against Brexit - saying leaving the EU would create a "staffing crisis" in the health service.

Dr David Tibbutt, a well-known retired consultant physician in the city, has waded into the referendum debate by saying the EU delivers "clear benefits" for hospitals, surgeries, research funding and with checks on medicine quality.

His view has been backed up by Professor David London, a Worcester-based ex-doctor who used to chair the European Federation of Internal Medicine for his speciality of endocrinology and researches drug development.

The intervention of the duo has been leapt on by Worcester MP Robin Walker, who today claimed leaving the EU would create a "very substantial risk" to the NHS.

It comes as more than 60 leading British clinicians co-signed a letter published in The Times today, backing Remain.

Dr Tibbutt, who was also a city councillor for 10 years until 2014 and a former Mayor of Worcester, said: "Healthcare is one of the major issues - over 10 per cent of our NHS staff come from the European economic area, and loss of those from the EU would create a staffing crisis.

"The Royal College of Physicians, which has 30,000 doctors, favours staying in the EU and although officially neutral the British Medical Association, with 150,000 doctors, has listed the clear EU benefits to the NHS.

"Leaving the EU is likely to result in our loss of huge amounts of research funding and co-operation.

"We have also benefited from world leading checks on medicine quality.

"And what would happen to the European Health Insurance Card when we go on holiday to Europe?

"It's most likely to be invalid, leading to our having to pay for all urgent health needs. "The benefits of remaining in the EU far outweigh the disadvantages."

Dr London added: "The EU is a significant provider of funds for medical research.

"In this context the Royal Society is committed to our remaining in the EU, not only for financial benefits but also as a facilitator of the free movement of scientists at all levels and for all purposes.

"Britain benefits from the free movement of scientists within the EU as it has world leading universities and research facilities which need to attract the best and the brightest from across the continent.

"UK Medicine and medical science carry great authority in determining policy within European medical institutions - were we to leave, this authority would be lost, and with it our influence."

The boss of NHS England has already come out to back Remain.

Last week Tory MP Sarah Wollaston, who chairs parliament's powerful health select committee, switched her support from the Leave campaign to Remain, saying she was worried the NHS would face "a Brexit penalty".

Today Robin Walker said: "It is clear that the NHS is safer and better off if we choose positively to Remain.

I want to see more doctors and nurses in our local health service and an expansion of our hospital.

"To put that in any way at risk would be irresponsible and I am afraid that leaving the EU would be a very substantial risk.

"I am passionate about improving and investing in our NHS and I would add my voice to the overwhelming weight of medical opinion to call for a Remain vote in Worcester."

The Leave campaign has rubbished the claims, saying it would "redirect £5.2 billion of Britain's annual spending" into the NHS after Brexit - £100 million extra a week, although it is hotly disputed.

They also say immigration has created intolerable pressure on the service, lengthening queues at A&E and leaving many people unable to access GP surgeries quickly enough.

It said: “As our population grows, and as we all live for longer, so the pressures on the NHS are set to grow.

"One of the best ways to protect, and to strengthen, the NHS for the people of this country is to use some money we currently spend on EU membership to invest in improving healthcare.”

The PM has said the Leave campaign’s pledge is “unaffordable” under Treasury forecasts of the economic shock Brexit could cause.