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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Foreign doctors face GMC's English language tests | Foreign doctors face GMC's English language tests |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| New powers allowing the medical regulator to check doctors' English language skills have come into force. | New powers allowing the medical regulator to check doctors' English language skills have come into force. |
| Previously only doctors from outside Europe could have their language skills tested by the General Medical Council (GMC), but this has now been extended to European doctors coming to Britain. | Previously only doctors from outside Europe could have their language skills tested by the General Medical Council (GMC), but this has now been extended to European doctors coming to Britain. |
| The GMC hailed the change in law as an "important milestone". | The GMC hailed the change in law as an "important milestone". |
| Ministers said "for the first time ever" there was now a "full system of checks" of doctors' language skills. | Ministers said "for the first time ever" there was now a "full system of checks" of doctors' language skills. |
| Necessary knowledge | Necessary knowledge |
| The change gives the GMC the power to ask European doctors for evidence of knowledge of English, and to order them to have a language test if "serious concerns" are raised about them. | The change gives the GMC the power to ask European doctors for evidence of knowledge of English, and to order them to have a language test if "serious concerns" are raised about them. |
| GMC chief executive Niall Dickson said: "This is an important milestone in creating better, safer care for patients. | GMC chief executive Niall Dickson said: "This is an important milestone in creating better, safer care for patients. |
| "Everyone has a right to expect to be treated by doctors who can communicate effectively in English and this will help us achieve this." | "Everyone has a right to expect to be treated by doctors who can communicate effectively in English and this will help us achieve this." |
| Mr Dickson said that under European law the GMC was not allowed to check every doctor, but said the change was a "vital first step". | Mr Dickson said that under European law the GMC was not allowed to check every doctor, but said the change was a "vital first step". |
| He said it did not "absolve" medical employers of their duties to check doctors were "qualified and competent". | He said it did not "absolve" medical employers of their duties to check doctors were "qualified and competent". |
| The risk of a doctor not being fluent in English was highlighted by a lethal mistake made by Dr Daniel Ubani, a German doctor doing an out-of-hours shift who gave a lethal dose of a painkiller to patient David Gray. | The risk of a doctor not being fluent in English was highlighted by a lethal mistake made by Dr Daniel Ubani, a German doctor doing an out-of-hours shift who gave a lethal dose of a painkiller to patient David Gray. |
| As a German citizen he was able to register to work in the UK without passing a language test. | As a German citizen he was able to register to work in the UK without passing a language test. |
| At the end of April, there were 27,641 doctors registered with the GMC who had qualified in European countries. | At the end of April, there were 27,641 doctors registered with the GMC who had qualified in European countries. |
| Health Minister Dan Poulter said: "For the first time ever, we have a full system of checks in place to prevent doctors working in the NHS who do not have the necessary knowledge of English from treating patients. | Health Minister Dan Poulter said: "For the first time ever, we have a full system of checks in place to prevent doctors working in the NHS who do not have the necessary knowledge of English from treating patients. |
| "This is a huge step forward for patient safety. I am pleased to have played my part in making this happen." | "This is a huge step forward for patient safety. I am pleased to have played my part in making this happen." |