PA -- Foreign doctors are to be forced to take language tests before starting work in the NHS under new rules being introduced in the wake of a number of scandals involving overseas medical professionals.
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said he was acting to prevent anyone with a "poor grasp" of English from treating patients in future following cases like that of German doctor Daniel Ubani.
The locum killed 70-year-old David Gray with a painkiller overdose on his first and only shift in Britain in February 2008.
Investigations into the case found Dr Ubani had been rejected for work in Leeds due to poor English skills and the Government has been in discussions with the General Medical Council (GMC) about language tests.
Mr Lansley will set out details of the tougher checks in his speech to the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, insisting that the Government appreciates the work of many foreign doctors.
Under the new regime, language skills will be added to the required checks by the 'responsible officers' in each local area responsible for ensuring doctors are appropriately trained and qualified for the role.
The GMC will also be given explicit new powers to take action against doctors when there are concerns about their ability to speak English.
European law means only doctors from outside the European Economic Area (EEA), for example Pakistan, Canada or Australia, can be routinely checked for their grasp of English before being able to register with the GMC.
Mr Lansley said: "There is considerable anxiety amongst the public about the ability of doctors to speak English properly.
"After 13 years of inaction from Labour to tighten up language controls, we will amend the legislation to prevent all foreign doctors with a poor grasp of English from working in England. If you can't speak adequate English, you can't treat patients."