§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what level of scrutiny of training will apply to overseas applicants to join the UK specialist register. [87754]
§ Mr. HuttonAll doctors applying to join the specialist register must meet certain standards. For doctors possessing a specialist qualification awarded overseas, the qualification must be equivalent to the United Kingdom qualification, in specialties for which the UK itself awards a qualification, or, for all other specialties, give the doctor the knowledge and skill consistent with 1059W practice as a consultant in that specialty in the national health service. These requirements are set by the European Specialist Medical Qualifications Order 1995.
It is the job of the specialist training authority of the Medical Royal Colleges (STA) to assess whether these standards are met in individual cases. We are proposing to replace the STA with a new body, the postgraduate medical education and training board, under legislation we hope to bring before the House in the new year.