Rogue doctors and thousands of other health professionals who have been struck off for misconduct in other European countries are able to work in Britain because there is no mechanism in place to warn employers.

In a letter to The Times today, ten leading medical regulators have expressed grave concerns about the vetting procedures.

The number of professionals — including doctors, nurses, dentists and chiropractors — from the European Economic Area registering to work in Britain has doubled in three years. The regulators said that although most were of benefit to Britain, a small, poorly trained minority were exploiting the system and could put patients at risk.

The letter’s signatories, members of the Alliance of UK Health Regulators on Europe, cite several examples, including two nurses identified in the past year who had been banned from working in Ireland and a Dutch doctor who was allowed to work in this country despite being convicted of rape in his homeland.

The alliance says that there is no system in place to test fitness to practise or language skills or to flag up those found guilty of professional misconduct or criminal offences or otherwise considered to be a danger to patients.

They add in their letter that due to loopholes in EU legislation an unknown number of incompetent or convicted medical professionals could be working in Britain.

A healthcare professional from another EU state needs evidence only of recognised medical training and a “certificate of good standing” to work in Britain. Different countries apply different standards, making assessments unreliable.

The alliance is calling on the European Commission to impose a legal duty on all European medical regulators to share information about professionals who transgress national codes of conduct.

“In 2005, over 7,000 practitioners from the European Economic Area (the 27 EU states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) came to Britain to register with our regulatory bodies and find work,” their letter says. “While the UK undoubtedly benefits from this high level of mobility . . . there may be a minority who exploit free-movement rights and put patients at risk.”

It adds: “Regulators in Europe must be given the tools to enable them to facilitate this free movement while at the same time ensuring the safety of patients and the public.”

Signatories to the letter, including the heads of the General Medical Council, the General Dental Council and the Nursing and Midwifery Council, call for sweeping reforms to facilitate proper checks on qualifications, experience and employment history.

The letter is also endorsed by the General Optical, Osteopathic and Chiropractic councils, the Health Professions Council and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.

The alliance is due to present its findings to the European Commission today.

At present, British medical regulators apply strict performance tests, measuring practical skills and proficiency in English among other things, to professionals from outside Europe who wish to work in Britain.

Back to work

Peter de Bruijn, a Dutch doctor, secured a job as a general practitioner in England after concealing that he had been found guilty of rape and sexual assault in the Netherlands. He was given a 12-month jail sentence at Birmingham Crown Court in 2001 for failing to disclose his convictions.

Rodney Ledward, a gynaecologist, was struck off by the General Medical Council after being found guilty of botching 13 operations. Ledward, who was dually qualified, was later found to be working in Ireland as a pharmacist after being given a “certificate of good standing” by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. He registered as a locum pharmacist in Ireland under EU freedom of movement legislation. He died in 2000.

Two nurses were struck off after they were found to be working despite having previously lost their registrations in Ireland. Two more are being investigated.

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