NHS staff with poor English 'can be struck off'

[Northerner]

NHS regulators will be able to discipline or strike off doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers who are not able to communicate clearly in English under new UK-wide plans.

The proposed powers are set out in a draft Bill published by the Law Commission.

The government said it would consider legislating.

Ministers have already been working to ensure any doctor's English is up to scratch before they are first employed.

Rules due to come into force this summer would mean doctors could be struck off the medical register if they have poor English.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-26839888

 

[marty12]

its about time
but a little to late for some

 

[gossamersquare]

I totally agree - my son went recently to see an eye specialist and he couldnt understand a word he said - he had to go back to his gp to ask what he was talking about!

 

[Copepod]

Notice that headline says NHS staff; text says doctors. I had problems understanding a receptionist when I went to a new hospital for the first time in a new city.

 

[Andy HB]

Just reminded me when I was in hospital when first diagnosed.

The nurse asked me "aoohiinnepin"?

I had to ask her to repeat the question and got the same response about four or five times before another patient helped me out.

"She said, are you in any pain?" he said!

Andy 🙂

 

[AlisonM]

They may be excellent medics, but what use is that if you can't communicate with them? It's essential that we should be understood when explaining our problems to a doctor or nurse, it's hard enough getting the proper treatment anyway without adding a language barrier.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

I totally agree - my son went recently to see an eye specialist and he couldnt understand a word he said - he had to go back to his gp to ask what he was talking about!

Had the same problem yesterday and I lost the plot in the end as he was incapable of putting me on the waiting list for my 2nd cataract op.
90 mile round trip for nothing 😡
I did manage to speak to the lovely pre op nurse this morning who made enquiries and came back to me this pm and has hopefully sorted the problem.