NHS: EU Legislation

Debate between Earl Howe and Viscount Bridgeman

Monday 21st October 2013 Lords Chamber

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, the noble Lord will know that doctors from the European Economic Area are deemed to have professional skills equivalent to those of doctors trained in this country. When doctors come from outside the European Economic Area, then, indeed, the GMC puts procedures in place to ensure that the skills of those professional people match those that we would wish to see in the National Health Service.

[Viscount Bridgeman (Con)]

Can the Minister confirm that the proposed amendment to the free movement directive now gives competent authorities the powers to test EEA nurses for English proficiency before they get clearance to practise in the UK? If that is so, is it, in the Minister’s view, adequate in the interests of patient safety?

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, my department is absolutely committed to ensuring that regulated healthcare professionals are not able to work in the NHS without adequate English skills. The revision of the mutual recognition of professional qualifications directive, which impacts on registrations from within the EEA, clarifies that regulators such as the NMC can undertake proportionate language controls on professionals following registration.