Europe gives all-clear to test foreign doctors on the English language

EUROPEAN Union rules do not stop national authorities carrying out language tests on foreign doctors working in the UK, the European Commission has said.

A health select committee report this week called for tighter vetting of foreign doctors, including rapid improvements to the way English language competency is checked among medics who travel to the UK for work as general practitioners.

It urged ministers to press for EU rule changes to allow the General Medical Council to check on language competency.

Yesterday the commission said foreign doctors working in the UK were covered by EU laws providing for the mutual recognition of professional qualifications across borders.

That included doctors setting up permanently in the UK and those staying for a limited time to provide temporary shift cover.

"In both cases, linguistic requirements apply, so once a doctor is authorised to work in the UK they have to have the right knowledge of English to do their job properly," the spokesman said.

The level of knowledge of English depended on the specific medical job – with more stringent requirements for doctors working directly with the public than for those based in laboratories and, therefore, not in professional contact with the public.

The Professional Qualifications Directive says that language requirements can be imposed, but they need to be proportionate and on a case-by-case basis.

"The competent authority cannot impose a general test regardless of a doctor's situation; they have to give the doctor an opportunity to demonstrate their level of English."

That, explained the spokesman, could mean providing proof of language qualifications, or "coming in for a chat".

But, ultimately, a doctor could be subjected to a language test.

The committee's report follows an outcry over the death of a patient, David Gray, who was given ten times the correct dose of morphine by a German locum, Daniel Ubani.

In February, a coroner delivered a verdict of unlawful killing.

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 in Britain and in Germany.

Dr Ubani's poor English meant he was refused work by the National Health Service in West Yorkshire but was later accepted in Cornwall.

The GMC welcomed the commission statement on language testing, and claimed it was the "gold plating" of EU law in UK legislation that was the problem.

"As we made clear in our evidence to the health select committee, the GMC is prevented from language testing doctors from the European Economic Area by domestic legislation, which we described as 'gold-plating' the European Directive," a GMC spokesman said. "That is why we are keen to work with the Department of Health to secure the changes we need to the 1983 Medical Act to allow language testing in the interests of protecting patients."