Making sure all licensed doctors have the necessary knowledge of English to practise safely in the UK

We are consulting on plans to further strengthen the safeguards that are already in place to make sure all licensed doctors have the necessary knowledge of English to practise safely in the UK.  The first part of this consultation seeks your views on changes to our regulations that will let us ask for evidence of a European doctor’s* English language skills before we grant a licence to practise in the UK. More information is set out in the section on demonstrating the necessary knowledge of English (pages 8–13).We are also seeking views on further changes to our regulations that will help us to take action in relation to doctors who are already licensed where concerns are raised about their language skills. More information is set out in the section on changes tothe Fitness to Practise Rules 2004 (pages 14–19).  We expect to publish the outcome of the consultation early in 2014.