Foreign doctors to receive tests in English
October 04, 2011
Posted by:Jo Chapman
Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley is to call for foreign doctors to be barred from treating patients unless they have a good grasp of English under tough new rules.
A new law will give NHS trusts the statutory duty to check the English language skills of all new overseas doctors before they are employed. The Trusts will also have to ensure that the doctor has the right qualifications to work in the NHS, that appropriate references are obtained and checked and that the applicant is trained to UK standards and understands how the NHS works.
A failure to comply with these statutory duties may lead to a claim against the Trust if a patient suffers injury as a result.