Tonight:
4°c
'Doctors who waltz in from EU putting our patients at risk'
Ross Lydall24 Aug 2009
Medical leaders today called for rules to prevent GPs from the EU "waltzing in and out" of the UK to work without having proved they are fit to practise.
It follows the case of 70-year-old David Gray, who died after being administered an overdose of painkillers by a German GP on his first shift in Britain. The doctor admitted he was not familiar with the drug.
The GP, Dr Daniel Ubani, a German of Nigerian origin, had been working as an agency medic for an out-of-hours NHS service in Cambridgeshire, when he was called to Mr Gray's house in February last year.
Finlay Scott, chief executive of the General Medical Council, said the current system "does not guarantee the level of patient safety that we want".
He said he felt "anger and sadness" at the Dr Ubani case, and that the system had "failed". Dr Ubani is now banned from practising here but continues to work in Germany.
Mr Scott told the Guardian: "We have to persuade the EU to change its long-standing policy so we can test knowledge and skills at the point of first registration.
"The government in each of the four countries [of the UK] should say to primary care providers you must do your job." Steve Field, chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners, called for a "radical review" of out-of-hours primary care.
He said: "It appears that European doctors can waltz in and waltz out of this country without appropriate safeguards for the public.
"It appears [Dr Ubani] didn't know enough about the drugs he was using. This is a poor system and patients deserve better.
"It is the responsibility of primary care trusts to ensure that patients have good quality care by commissioning services appropriately, both in hours and out of hours. I believe a radical review of out-of-hours and weekend care is necessary."
The Government passed responsibility for out-of-hours care from GPs to NHS bodies five years ago.
About one in five GPs working in England qualified abroad. Doctors from non-EU countries have to pass a series of tests before being allowed to practise in Britain.
Dr Ubani was subject to a manslaughter investigation by Cambridgeshire police but attempts to bring him to England for trial were halted when German prosecutors launched their own legal action.
Dr Ubani was given a nine-month suspended prison sentence and fined £4,300 in April for causing Mr Gray's death by negligence.
Reader views (2)
I will refuse to be seen by ANY doctor who does not speak fluent English which would be followed up by a formal complaint to the relevant health authority.
- Vince, London, West London, 25/08/2009 13:39
Report abuse
To begin with I though this a very light sentence. I soon realised that the burden of guilt lies with Government. They have allowed this to happen throughout our country. English speaking Doctors from outside the EU wouldn't be allowed to walk in and practice, so why should EU Doctors be an exception?
Oh! Why is it that a non English speaking person would be provided a translator when, if I have a non English speaking Doctor, I do not have a translator?
- Maria, London, 25/08/2009 11:36
Report abuse
