EU nurses required to have English language checks due to patient safety concerns

The United Kingdom's Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has just issued a rule saying that all nurses and midwives from Europe will undergo an assessment of their English language skills. As British doctors are becoming increasingly dependent on nurses who do not have English as a first language, concerns have risen about the risks posed to patients by their flawed English-language skills.

According to the BBC News, 99,000 nurses who have registered with the NMC are not native English language speakers, as they immigrated to the United Kingdom from other countries in search of employment. Of this number, 33,000 come from Europe while the remaining 66,000 originate from other continents such as Asia or Africa.  The NMC has a total number of 690,000 nurses and midwives on its official list. The UK government has stated that it has plans to recruit more, a substantial number of which will come from outside British borders.

Nurses and midwives from non-European countries routinely undergo English language assessment tests. The NMC deems it only appropriate that the same rule applies to their counterparts from the European union; any European Union nurse who shows insufficient competence in the use of the English language will be asked to take the test which will cover skills in listening, reading, writing, and speaking.  

Jackie Smith, NMC Chief Executive, explains the impetus for the new rule. He says, "The ability to communicate effectively with patients is fundamental to patient safety and a principle that is central to our code."

Sharing his concern is Katharine Murphy of The Patients Association who cites patients' complaints coursed through their National Helpline.    While acknowledging the assistance given by foreign nurses, she warns that there are "definite issues" involving "communications"; another problem is these nurses' lack of understanding of British medical processes.

The Mirror echoes that these issues must be addressed and improved, given that the UK's recruitment of foreign nurses has doubled in recent years, from approximately 4000 kn 2013 to 8,183 in 2014-2015.  It also cites training or employment undergone in an English-speaking country can support a foreign nurse's claim of English fluency.

Jayne Adye's opinion piece on Breibart echoes the rising panic felt by British citizens over recent developments in the medical profession that can overlook these checks.  She points out that the European Union is on a fast track to issue electronic passports to European doctors, nurses, and midwives, allowing them to work in British hospitals without necessarily undergoing the proper Englsh-language assessment.

Hopefully, the NMC's recent ruling might help in assuring the British public about receiving the proper health care.

Tags

National Midwifery Council, European Union, Nurses, midwives, English language assessment, British hospitals, patient safety

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