§ 64. Mr. Goodhewasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospital medical staff committees have declined to take part in his scheme for the assessment of foreign doctors entering Great Britain.
§ Dr. John DunwoodyI am aware of three such refusals but no regional hospital board has reported inability to provide sufficient places in the region as a whole.
§ 65. Mr. Goodhewasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will introduce an examination comparable to that used in the United States of America, details of which have been sent to him, for the purpose of assessing the knowledge of medicine and of the English language possessed by foreign doctors entering Great Britain.
§ Dr. John DunwoodyAs my right hon. Friend told the House on 24th July, 1969, it is our view that this kind of assessment can best be made by attaching doctors to a hospital under consultant supervision. Since 28th November such assessment has been required as a condition of entry of overseas doctors to National Health Service hospital employment, except for certain categories of doctor who are exempt.—[Vol 787, c.437–8.]