One in 10 Doctors Can’t Speak English
By REBECCA SMITH; PATRICK WORRALL
ONE in 10 doctors allowed to practise in Britain cannot speak good enough English, it was claimed today.
A total of 23,000 medics from Europe are arriving here without a basic grasp of the language, according to influential health regulators.
The groups have called for a change to European law to ensure all doctors arriving from the Continent undergo proper language testing.
It comes as a coroner also urged the Government to change the law on foreign doctors being allowed to practise in the UK without taking English tests, following the death of a French GP’s patient.
Coroner Dr Paul Knapman said he would write to Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt after hearing how doctor Bernard Delvigne’s language difficulties led to delays in an ambulance arriving at his surgery following an emergency.
His patient Joao Kiese, 38, had suffered a reaction to a steroid injection and started foaming at the mouth.
Westminster Coroner’s Court heard that Dr Delvigne dialled 999 but the call dragged on for 10 minutes. The doctor – who has practised in this country for five years – blamed an operator and told the inquest: “I understand the Oxford accent but not Cockney.”
A verdict of death by misadventure was recorded.
Under current rules, doctors from Europe can register and treat patients in Britain but do not have to prove they can speak the language, unlike those from other countries. But there are fears from the General Medical Council and other regulators that patient care may be at risk.
A GMC spokeswoman said: “The GMC has consistently pointed out the risk to patient safety and wants to see the law changed.”
Rules on free labour movement in Europe mean doctors from the Continent are exempt from language testing but medics from English- speaking countries such as Australia may have to take the exam. Latest figures show that on 1 July last year there were 23,085 doctors – out of a total of 240,000 medics currently working in the country – from the European Economic Area registered to practise in Britain.
(c) 2007 Evening Standard; London (UK). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.