Health Minister gives evidence to Lords Inquiry
14 July 2011
Public Health Minister, Anne Milton, was questioned by the House of Lords Social Policies and Consumer Protection EU Sub-Committee on Thursday 14 July, in the last evidence session of their inquiry into the mobility of healthcare professionals.
- Parliament TV: Mobility of Healthcare Professionals
- EU Sub Committee on Social Policies and Consumer Protection
The committee has heard previous witnesses' concerns that the European Commission may be focusing too much on improving mobility rather than issues such as patient safety and ensuring that any fitness to practice issues with healthcare professionals are shared between Member States.
The committee asked the Minister – whose portfolio includes nursing and midwifery, public health, medical education and training and professional regulation – to set out the Government's approach on issues including:
- Whether the Government considers that healthcare professionals should be treated differently to other professionals moving between Member States
- If the Government thinks it is possible to maintain the UK's standards if not all EU healthcare colleagues have training of a similar kind
- What the Government's proposals are for an improved system to test the language skills of European doctors wishing to come and work in the UK.
The evidence session took place at 10.00am on Thursday 14 July in Committee Room 2 of the House of Lords.