Doctors’ language barrier fears may lead to EU exam

DOCTORS from eastern Europe may have to sit an English language exam before being allowed to practice here.

The Irish Medical Council has proposed that doctors from the EU accession states sit an English test amid fears that the standard of English might be inadequate.

The council said there had been a considerable increase in the number of doctors from eastern Europe coming to work here in recent years, particularly since the 10 new accession countries joined the EU in mid-2004.