article_snippet: The move marks an extension of legislation introduced early last year, which demands that all foreign doctors are now subjected to tough language checks before treating patients.
article_snippet: Since law was passed 429 doctors have been refused a licence to practise medicine in the UK because 429 doctors English language skills are not up to scratch.
article_snippet: Until last year when the law changed, the General Medical Council only had the new powers to test the language skills of foreign doctors from outside the EU.
article_snippet: Since 1983, the doctors' regulatory body had been banned from testing the skills of those arriving from the EU countries.
article_snippet: Last year's change in law for doctors was prompted by an 'alarming' number of cases where patients complained about poor treatment from doctors with a poor grasp of the English language.
article_snippet: In an attempt to tackle the problem, the Government proposed changing the law in September 2013.
article_snippet: the GMC now has the power to investigate any complaints made about doctors' poor language skills.
article_snippet: And as part of their regular appraisals, and the new medical revalidation process for doctors, which their must pass to continue treating patients, the GMC the GMC now checks language skills of those medics from overseas.
highlights_snippet: Last year Government passed new law to make all foreign doctors take test .
  
highlights_snippet: But in interests of patient safety, GMC can now investigate doctors' English .
  
highlights_snippet: Since law passed 429 doctors have been refused licence to treat patients .
  