Patients at risk from EU doctors who can barely speak English
Brussels law prevents proper tests, experts warn
PATIENTS are put at risk by Eu rules that prevent officials properly testing the language skills of doctors, dentists and nurses, experts warn.
the Royal college of surgeons last night called on ministers to use Brexit negotiations to close the loophole.
More than a quarter of European doctors applying to work in Britain are turned away because their English is not good enough.
But experts say many with poor English slip through the net as Eu ‘equality’ rules mean regulators are not allowed to directly test understanding of medical terms. Instead, health workers can produce a certificate that proves only general conversation ability.
Professor nigel Hunt, of the college’s faculty of dental surgery, said: ‘Eu law makes it impossible to insist applicants demonstrate their English skills in a clinical setting… this could be putting patients at risk.’
Freedom of Information requests by the college revealed General Medical council data showing 29 foreign doctors from Europe faced allegations of inadequate English in 2014 and 2015. only ten from outside Europe faced similar claims, despite the fact Britain has twice as many doctors from outside Europe than inside.
General Dental council figures reveal 145 claims of poor English against European dentists in the same period. only 27 were made against those from outside Europe.
In the past ten months, three European doctors were suspended over poor English and a fourth ordered to work under supervision.
they include a Bulgarian trauma surgeon who had to point to instruments in theatre because he did not know the names; a Polish gynaecologist reported by his clinic; an Italian urologist who needed an interpreter; and a Polish heart specialist who worked in the NHS for eight years before it emerged he could not understand instructions.
Medics from outside Europe must pass tough language exams, which test them on medical terms and ability to speak to patients.
But the Eu does not allow this test to be given to those from the European Economic Area, because its ‘Recognition of Professional Qualifications Directive’ says European workers should not face any burden not placed on Britons. Regtion.
‘Serious problems’
ulators can ask health workers to prove they can speak a certain level of English – a right won by the GMC only in 2014 – but they are not allowed to test this themselves.
It means most medics hand over a certificate for the International English Language testing system which assesses everyday conversa- Doctors must get a minimum score of 7.5 out of nine.
A seven is described as ‘generally able to handle complex language well’ but ‘occasional inaccuracies, inappropriate usage and misunderstandings in some situations’.
Past papers asked about sport or building conservation, a question deemed to be ‘academic’ standard.
the flaw in the Eu rules was tragically exposed by the 2008 death of David Gray, 70, at the hands of German GP Daniel ubani on a locum shift. the medic had not faced checks on competence or English and gave the pensioner ten times the safe dose of diamorphine.
the law has since been tightened, but experts warn more needs to be done. Professor Hunt said: ‘the number of EEA doctors and dentists facing allegations relating to communication skills is an issue we think the Government should be taking very seriously … post-Brexit negotiations offer an excellent opportunity to change this and ensure testing is vigorous enough to ensure patient safety.’
Dr nigel carter of the oral Health Foundation dentists’ group said ‘communication issues’ could lead to ‘more serious problems’.
the GMC’s niall Dickson said: ‘We have always argued that we should have the right to test the competence of European doctors as well as language and that remains our position.’
A Department of Health spokesman said: ‘Patient safety is of the utmost importance … we have tough rules, allowing the GMC and individual employers to test employees… these cases represent just 0.002 per cent of NHS staff.’