EUROPEAN pharmacists will not be vetted on their English language skills by the General Pharmaceutical Council, whereas the General Medical Council has been given explicit new powers to be able to take action against doctors when there are concerns about their ability to speak English. Health secretary Andrew Lansley announced last week at the Conservative party conference in Manchester that the Department of Health will go back on its previous interpretation of the European Directive that prevents regulatory bodies from testing the English language competence of Europe-qualified healthcare professionals (see Panel) so that the GMC is allowed to do so.
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