Tougher rules for doctors who qualified outside the EU could cut rate of serious mistakes by 50 per cent

According to a study conducted by researchers at the University of York, doctors who have qualified outside the EU are twice as likely as those who qualified in Britain to be struck off or suspended.

Currently, all doctors from outside of the EU are required to sit an English language and clinical skills test before being permitted to work in Britain.

Dr Paul Tiffin, who led the research, said that failing the ‘relatively simple’ test a number of times could indicate that a doctor’s skills were not of a high enough standard to work in the UK.

From September, the GMC is imposing a limit of four test resits.

The study authors suggest that if doctors could only practice in Britain if they passed the test first time, the number of sanctions for malpractice would reduce by half and would be on the same level as British-trained doctors.

The study found that around 60 per cent of doctors passed the test first time and that those who did not were much more likely to receive sanctions further down the line.

Dr Tiffin said “Our findings suggest that further limiting the number of resits permitted may help protect patients from malpractice. The numbers are small, but just one incompetent doctor can cause a disproportionate amount of problems.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Paralegal, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (karenmotley@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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