General Medical Council to test UK doctors' English proficiency

British medical council is being given new powers to check the English-language skills of all doctors working in the UK.

The General Medical Council at present only makes language checks on doctors from outside Europe.

The government is carrying out a 12-week consultation on the changes.

According to the BBC, in April, the government created a national list of doctors who can treat NHS patients.

The report said that it also appointed senior doctors who have a legal duty to ensure all doctors in their local area can speak the necessary level of English to perform their job in a safe and competent manner.

Health Minister Dr Dan Poulter said that overseas doctors make a hugely valuable contribution to the NHS, but it is clear that tougher checks are needed, the report said.

He added that they have already strengthened the way doctors' language skills are checked at a local level.

He said that these new powers are an important step in making the system even stronger by allowing the GMC to carry out checks on a national level before they start work in the UK.

Poulter said the move would prevent doctors who do not have the necessary knowledge of English from treating patients, the report added.