Doctor is suspended for poor grasp of English

A DOCTOR has been suspended after she had trouble understanding patients due to her poor grasp of the English language.

Dr Monika Matko had been working for University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Trust when concerns were raised by colleagues about her communication skills.

Dr Matko, who graduated as a doctor in Hungary in 2003, had been working in the UK since 2012.

Despite this, she was found struggling to write down the notes and plans for patients weeks after starting a new job at a Junior Clinical Fellow in Medicine at Queen’s Hospital in Burton in December 2018.

According to reports by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS), on several occasions colleagues had to correct what she had written to ensure patients received the correct care.

At a hearing in February this year, an MPTS tribunal was told that Dr Matko was employed as cover over the winter period and that during this time concerns were raised by colleagues. On one occasion a colleague said they had noted “several significant errors” in the documentation of one patient she had dealt with which had to be rectified. It added that while colleagues felt she was speaking fluently, she was not speaking “correctly”, while there were also concerns about her “listening skills”.

One member of staff said they were “confused” her English was at such a level after spending years working for the NHS.

The General Medical Council (GMC) directed her to undergo an English language test, on which she failed to achieve the required scores for listening, reading and writing.

Following this she was suspended for six months, with a review to take place in July to assess whether things had changed as she was due to take another test in May.

At the latest hearing, which was held on July 27, it was revealed that she failed to achieve the required scores in listening, reading, writing and speaking on this test.

MTPS tribunal chair, Mr Sean Ell, said: “I am satisfied that Dr Matko’s fitness to practise remains impaired by reason of her knowledge of the

English language. Dr Matko’s latest English language results fall below the level required by the GMC in all areas.

“Dr Matko cannot be allowed to return to practice without the requisite level of knowledge of English as this would represent a risk to patient safety that cannot be controlled by conditions.

“A further period of suspension for 12 months would provide Dr Matko with sufficient opportunity to improve her English and to demonstrate her proficiency in the English language by obtaining the required level of qualification.”

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Trust said no previous concerns had been raised regarding her communications skills when working at her previous trust.

It added that when it was found her language skills were not at the level required, she was placed in a role with close supervision and mentoring.

A spokesperson for University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Trust said: “Dr Matko worked at UHDB from December 2018 until her voluntary resignation in January 2019.

“We have co-operated fully with the enquiries from the GMC and welcome their decision.”

Dr Matko cannot be allowed to return to practice without the requisite level of knowledge of English.

Tribunal