English language controls apply to EU nurses and other healthcare professionals

Implementation date: 18 January 2016

The Health Care and Associated Professions (Knowledge of English) Order 2015 (SI 2015/806) amended the Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001 (SI 2002/253) to enable the Nursing and Midwivery Council to apply language controls, where appropriate, for European nurses and midwives.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (Fitness to Practise) (Education, Registration and Registration Appeals) (Amendment No.2) Rules Order of Council 2015 (SI 2015/1923) amends the registration rules to enable a registrar to require a nurse or midwife seeking admission or readmission to the register to undertake an English language examination and assessment. In addition, it amends the fitness to practise rules to require a nurse or midwife, where his or her fitness to practice is impaired by not having the required knowledge of English, to undertake an English examination and assessment.

English language controls also apply to other healthcare and associated professions, including dentists, dental care professionals, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.