DT News - UK - Foreign dentists face language tests in UK

Dental Tribune International

Thu. 12 September 2013

save

LONDON – Last week, the UK Department of Health announced its plans to introduce language tests for European medical professionals wishing to work in the UK. The new regulation will give the General Medical Council (GMC) the power to impose checks where concerns arise about a doctor’s English language competence.

According to the department, the new proposals are designed to complement and strengthen the existing language controls imposed on medical staff through the Responsible Officers Regulations, Performers Lists Regulations and other checks undertaken at a local level, which were introduced in April this year.

Health Minister Dr Dan Poulter explained that the GMC will be entitled to carry out assessments before allowing European doctors from outside the UK to treat patients in a hospital or general practice.

By carrying out tests at a national level, the minister hopes to prevent doctors who do not have the necessary knowledge of English from treating patients. To be accepted on a centrally held list, general practitioners will have to demonstrate their ability to communicate in English.

The new rules are expected to come into effect in 2014.

To post a reply please login or register

Woman discovers foreign dental piece in cheese

CAMBRIDGE – A woman from Cambridge in England has reported finding someone else’s dental work in a piece of blue cheese purchased at a ...

UK dentists expect drop in earnings, patient numbers in 2021

LONDON, UK: A new report commissioned by the General Dental Council (GDC) has found that UK dental professionals are pessimistic about being able to meet ...

UK dentist assists displaced refugees in Lebanon

NORWICH, UK: Dr Gautam Sharma, owner of a dental practice in Norfolk, has just returned from a mission to Lebanon, where he and other volunteers provided ...

Surprising dental health inequalities found between foreign‐ and UK‐born adults

LONDON, UK: Migration patterns in the UK have changed tremendously in the last two decades owing to ease of global travel, asylum seekers from conflict ...

UK dentists back energy drink ban for under-16s

LONDON, England: The UK government has launched a 12-week consultation proposing a ban on sales of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s. This ...

Pandemic leads UK dentists to seek advice in record numbers

GLASGOW, UK: Changing restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic have regularly affected the scope of work that dental professionals have been allowed to ...

Provisional registration proposed for overseas-trained dentists in the UK

LONDON, UK: Dentists with overseas qualifications looking to practise in the UK are currently subject to an extensive registration process. As part of a ...

Data from UK registry shows slight increase in number of dentists in 2022

LONDON, UK: The General Dental Council (GDC) has recently announced that the number of dentists on the UK register remained stable after the annual renewal ...

UK dentists step up efforts as COVID-19 impact worsens

LONDON, UK: The effects of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic have been felt at every level in the UK. Many were shocked to hear that UK Prime Minister Boris ...

Staying ahead in dentistry: Pleading for language competency and communication skills

Language competency can mean different things to different people. A dentist and dental nurse for example, will use a completely different vocabulary to ...

Education

Live webinar
Wed. 22 October 2025
6:00 pm UTC (London)