REVEALED: Thousands of EU doctors rejected work in Britain 'for FAILING English tests'
MORE than a quarter of doctors from the EU applying to work in Britain have been rejected for failing their English tests, it has been revealed.
A thousand EU doctors were turned away because of poor English test results
Since the tests were imposed two years ago, 1,000 doctors reportedly failed to reach the minimum standard.
It comes amid fears hundreds of medics slipped into the UK before the tests were imposed.
Katherine Murphy, chief executive of the Patients Association, is concerned by the findings
Before the exams, the General Medical Council (GMC) would hand out licences to doctors.
But the GMC was banned from testing EU doctors as the European Commission claimed it would impede freedom of movement laws.
Of the 3,732 doctors that have applied since 2014, just 2,732 people reportedly passed.
Effective communication is vital and can sometimes make the difference between life and death
Katherine Murphy, chief executive of the Patients Association, told the Mail: "Effective communication is vital and can sometimes make the difference between life and death."
A spokesperson for the Department of Health said: "We expect all healthcare professionals to have a good command of the English language to deliver the best care for patients."
Just 73 per cent of EU doctors who applied passed the English tests
It comes after Clare Marx, president of the Royal College of Surgeons, revealed Britain's decision to leave the EU would make Britain safer.
Ms Marx said top health officials should “seize the moment” by making English language tests harder.
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She said: “We are concerned that the current testing remains insufficient and risks patient safety.
“We do language testing but we don’t do medical language testing. That language test is often just simply talking about everyday life."