Health Secretary Wes Streeting has launched an urgent review of vetting procedures for foreign-trained doctors after it emerged that 22 medics banned abroad were cleared to treat NHS patients in the UK.
The revelations, uncovered by media revealed that despite disciplinary action overseas, including suspensions for poor patient care, sexual misconduct, harassment, stalking charges, and even assault convictions these doctors were able to obtain General Medical Council (GMC) licenses without any record of their past sanctions.
Calling the findings horrific and “a serious failure in our medical regulatory systems,” Streeting said patient safety remained his top priority.
He ordered immediate clarification from the GMC on how international doctors are vetted and directed NHS England to urgently assess the status of the affected doctors to protect patients and staff.
“No doctor with serious misconduct findings should slip through the cracks and practise in our NHS – no exceptions, no matter where they trained,” he said.
The GMC responded by stressing that it routinely exchanges information with overseas regulators and proactively seeks details when doctors apply for UK registration.
However, it admitted that in some highlighted cases, either regulators abroad had failed to notify them, or the GMC had allowed registration despite knowing about sanctions.
Currently, the GMC is reviewing 26 cases, including one flagged as urgent. Of these, 25 doctors no longer hold UK licences, though some have worked in the NHS previously.
The regulator said it “takes patient protection extremely seriously” and would continue to investigate each case thoroughly.
