Doctors with inadequate language skills could be struck off, warns health secretary
Doctors whose English is not up to scratch could be struck off amid fears that patients are being put at risk.
Plans unveiled today would also see senior medics ordered to ensure that all staff at their organisations have adequate language skills.
Concerns have been raised after cases in which foreign doctors were said to have provided sub-standard care.
Those coming to the UK from outside the EU already face strict language tests. But some 23,000 doctors from within the area are said to have registered to work in the NHS without being asked if they can speak English properly.
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said the moves, being put out for consultation, would help protect patients.
"It is absolutely crucial that we get this right," he said. "Clearly if a doctor can't speak proper English then they won't be able to communicate effectively with their patients.
"It can also lead to situations where doctors put patients' safety at risk.
"The last Government knew this was a problem but failed to change the system to protect patients.
"We will create a legal duty that will mean doctors in hospitals and in the community will have to ensure that anyone hired is able to speak English and is suitably qualified and experienced for the role.
"This will create proper accountability and will leave no-one in any doubt about our desire to protect patients."
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Some 500 "responsible officers" at hospitals and other organisations will be tasked with checking language skills.
Mr Lansley went on: "We need to bring some common sense back and ensure that if a doctor is judged not to have the language skills to be able to work properly or safely in the NHS that they can be suspended or removed from the register.
"Under the current system, if there are serious concerns about a doctor who can't speak English it can still be difficult to strike them off unless they have actually harmed a patient.
"That is not good enough and it has to change.
"We must be able to take action to protect patients if there are genuine concerns rather than just hoping for the best.
"So we will look to amend the General Medical Council's powers to make it easier for them to take action if concerns are raised about a doctor's suitability."
The General Medical Council has been pushing for stronger language testing since the case of David Gray, who died in Cambridgeshire in 2008.
He was killed by German doctor Daniel Ubani who administered 10 times the normal dose of diamorphine.
Dr Ubani admitted being exhausted after getting only a couple of hours sleep before starting his shift in the UK, and said he was confused about the difference between drugs used here and in Germany.
His poor English meant he was refused work by the NHS in one part of the country but was later accepted in Cornwall.
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Doctors whose English is not up to scratch could be struck off amid fears that patients are being put at risk.
Plans unveiled today would also see senior medics ordered to ensure that all staff at ...
Doctors whose English is not up to scratch could be struck off amid fears that patients are being put at risk.
Plans unveiled today would also see senior medics ordered to ensure that all staff at ...
Their already getting appointments with human rights lawyers saying not speaking English is no handicap,they have a 50/50 chance of getting most proceedures correct
rba2753199: Their already getting appointments with human rights lawyers saying not
It's far more than this a community nurse refuses to help men if they are not fully dressed part of her job is to help people and it may mean they are not fully dressed such a treating bed sores.
Hookit: It's far more than this a community nurse refuses to
Jim, what have you added to this post NOTHING. Steamboats is right I do not have to pass comment about his spelling I know what he means.
Maybe you need to think prior to posting.
Hookit: Jim, what have you added to this post NOTHING. Steamboats
they shouldnt be struck off because that would damage their ability to return to their own country and still work as a doctor, but they should not be allowed to practice medicine here until they speak english properly
kkeeler735: they shouldnt be struck off because that would damage their
Doctors, nurses, chemists, they should all speak clear english. i nearly had an operation,just before the op, it was discoverd i didn't req it ,due to a misunder standing by a doctors secretary, who spoke very little english & understood even less. [ prob,the doc's wife].
MELkay: Doctors, nurses, chemists, they should all speak clear english. i
It amazes me how they try to put the blame on Labour yet again for something that has been happening for at least the last 30 years. This trying to put the blame on the previous government is just not on for any government no matter who they are. Stop blaming others and do something about it yourselves, after all it is you who are in power
jean1stephenson: It amazes me how they try to put the blame
"The General Medical Council has been pushing for stronger language testing since the case of David Gray, who died in Cambridgeshire in 2008." I think Labour were in power then.
seyrobin: "The General Medical Council has been pushing for stronger language
A few years ago I was seen by an East European doctor in a UK hospital to check out a leaking heart valve. My wife and I found it very hard to understand him, but checking with other staff we were informed that the doctor would be in touch after CT scan results were available.
Months went by and we heard nothing so assumed there was no deterioration. After six months I chased the hospital for CT scan results only to be informed that I needed an appointment at which an English speaking doctor told me I required open heart surgery soon. I was operated on within a few months.
I refused to have any further appointments with the foreign doctor on the basis that something as serious as a heart condition requires complete clarity in verbal communication and confidence in the doctor ability to follow-up on his cases . Despite eventually agreeing to my request, this did not go down well with the hospital staff and I found some of them were quite brusque with me. Was my hospital file marked I wonder :-(
Anything that can be done to vet the ability of NHS employed staff to understand and communicate properly in English certainly gets my support.
It's all very well having rules imposed by Europe but working in the medical field has to have different criteria. The people who come here are not really to blame, it is the GMC who set the standard - according to their logo ' Regulating doctors. Ensuring good medical practice'. Any attempts to do this have so far had little impact because they are hamstrung by European rights although I gather Urbani somehow managed to get in by the back door. Striking doctors off is devastating for the doctor (usually) so why the hell do the GMC allow poor communicators and poorly trained doctors work here in the first place. I don't think politicians are totally to blame so could it be the annual registration fee that clinches the deal.
Do not assume the GMC is squeaky clean.
the_chairperson: It's all very well having rules imposed by Europe but
The have NO intentions of INTERGRATION they are not interested in being part of this country, apart from working here and claiming family allowance.whats wrong with our own medics and doctors we dont need foreigners.
Mr_Beefy: The have NO intentions of INTERGRATION they are not interested
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PA/Huffington Post UK | Posted: 18/04/2012 09:47 Updated: 18/04/2012 10:23