§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if medical practitioners from the Common Market countries allowed to practice in the United Kingdom are treated in the same way as doctors from the New Commonwealth with regard to the standard of English language required.
§ Dr. VaughanAll doctors seeking to work in the NHS have to satisfy an English language requirement, no matter where they qualified. While, from 1 August, those doctors who are nationals of, and qualified in, member States of the European Community, who seek to work in the NHS, will have to satisfy NHS employers or contracting authorities rather than the General Medical Council of their proficiency in English, I have advised that they should be required to meet standards the same as, or similar to, those applied by the GMC. I am also arranging that the attention of those who employ doctors outside the NHS be drawn to the need to apply similar standards.