Patients in the UK at risk because of the poor English of overseas doctors

Jul 6 2005

At present almost a third of doctors in the the UK are from overseas, and British doctors are warning that patients' lives are possibly being put at risk because thousands working in the UK as doctors may not have adequate English language skills.

The General Medical Council (GMC) tests all doctors from outside Europe before they are allowed to work, but those from within Europe are exempted.

The GMC's registration committee, determines the requirements doctors need to fulfil to demonstrate that they are fit to practise.

Now medical organisations are saying it is essential that all doctors are able to communicate effectively with patients.

The government is throwing the ball directly back into the doctors court saying that the NHS trusts which run the hospitals should ensure staff have adequate English.

Of the more than 230,000 doctors registered with the GMC, only 162,000 are UK nationals, 12,000 come from EU countries as well as Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, and 60,000 from the rest of the world.

Many in the profession say that patients lives are being put at risk because some doctors do not have good enough communication skills.

Dr Surendra Kumar who is president of the British International Doctors Association and a former member of the GMC's registration committee, says that quite often, doctors from outside Europe, have better language skills than those from within Europe, because they may have trained in English, and the problem is that they cannot test those from Europe.

She says when she was on the registration committee she found it immensely frustrating.

Dr Edwin Borman, chairman of the BMA's international committee, also says that it is essential that all doctors, whether from Europe or outside Europe, can communicate effectively, both with patients and colleagues, and he knows that this does not always happen under the present system.

Dr Borman says NHS trusts at present have the responsibility for ensuring that the doctors they employ are proficient in English, but the BMA believes the GMC should also have the power to test doctors' language skills.

Apparently the GMC agrees that this is an issue and it would like to take on that responsibility, and also be able to assure patients that all doctors on the medical register are able to communicate effectively in English.

According to the Department of Health it is up to NHS trusts to employ doctors with sufficient English skills, and the code of practice recommends that foreign doctors must demonstrate a level of English language proficiency "consistent with safe and skilled communication with patients, clients, carers and colleagues".