Nigel Farage has said that the NHS should not employ doctors who 'don't speak very good English', despite a language test being mandatory for all overseas doctors. The Ukip leader told Sky News that poor English skills among some GPs was 'something that people out there are talking about'.
Under current rules, doctors cannot practise in the NHS unless they achieve a certain score in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Farage's comments have been described as 'appalling' by a senior NHS doctor, who noted that the existing testing regime already ensures language proficiency.
Farage also addressed NHS funding, acknowledging that overall health spending would need to rise due to an ageing and growing population. However, he argued that efficiency savings could be made, pointing to a 48% increase in middle management staff since 1997 as an area for improvement.
The Ukip leader's remarks come as the party seeks to broaden its election campaign beyond immigration and the EU. Two years ago, Farage suggested the NHS might need to move to an insurance-based system, but Ukip has since rejected that idea and now pledges to protect the health service from privatisation.
Farage is expected to deliver major speeches in the coming weeks, setting out Ukip policies on health, education, and other issues, in an effort to attract voters disillusioned with the main parties.
