Originally Posted by smartascarrots

And if the NMC were allowed under UK law to ask for the same IELTS from these punters, then believe me they would. But they're not and can only act to protect the UK public from incompetent nurses in those fields in which they are allowed to.

I can appreciate that you're pissed off but you have to look at it from the other side. A Canadian qualification and a UK secondary education are not of themselves proof that you have the language abilities required of a British nurse. You'd think they ought to but they aren't and have been proved not to be.

I totally get what you are saying, and understand the motivation behind it. In Canada, we also request that nationals of non English speaking countries sit the English as a Second Language exam. We do not however, ask that nationals of English speakings countries sit the exam. We work on the basis that the standards of training in those countries are as high as they are in Canada, that one must be at a certain level of ability to be accepted into university (that is the downfall).
After acting in the role of preceptor for numerous British nurses coming here, it is with disapointment that I must say the NMC must accept that other English speaking countries sometimes operate to a higher standard. The majority of British nurses coming to Canada appear to be out of their depth and need a rather considerable amount of further training/teaching.

Mind, in future when people tell me I am talking shite, I can hold up my certificate and proudly say "no my good man, I am speaking English!".

I think the quote goes: "It's a huge shit sandwich and we're all goin' ta have ta take a bite".

Would you believe there are universities in the UK admitting to MScs on the strength of IELTS 6.0? For reasons of 'market positioning', of course - not academic integrity. Roll on retirement is all I can say.

Incidentally, does Canada ask for proof of proficiency from English-speaking countries like Nigeria?

Originally Posted by smartascarrots

I think the quote goes: "It's a huge shit sandwich and we're all goin' ta have ta take a bite".

Would you believe there are universities in the UK admitting to MScs on the strength of IELTS 6.0? For reasons of 'market positioning', of course - not academic integrity. Roll on retirement is all I can say.

Incidentally, does Canada ask for proof of proficiency from English-speaking countries like Nigeria?

It will ask for proof that the university of school trains to an acceptable standard.
Of course the ability to mass generate emails and share huge pots of wealth with everyone must count for something.
I will correct myself and say civilized English speaking countries!
Pooh sarnie? Sounds tasty!

Sorry,I thought this heading was all about our school leavers,who seem to have great difficulty speaking english,per se.

The requirement is for all non-EU citizens to take the test. Agreed, a load of toss and is the reason why we have a couple of high profile GP locums failing to either understand what the patient is saying or failing to explain to the patient what they needed to do (I think recent cases involved a German and a French locum). We had, variously, Indian, Lithuanian, Pakistani and Nigerian locums - all with perfect English - who had to take the test but a French one did not. The only complaint we had to lodge was against the French one who, quite frankly, was utterly useless and all his patients had to be seen by another GP to ensure they had been treated correctly.
I hope this government tells the EU to get stuffed and insists on all EU GPS taking an English test before being allowed to practice but I am not holding my breath. In your case, I'm afraid commonsense is not something bureaucrats can include in their CVs.

Originally Posted by smartascarrots

I think the quote goes: "It's a huge shit sandwich and we're all goin' ta have ta take a bite".

Would you believe there are universities in the UK admitting to MScs on the strength of IELTS 6.0? For reasons of 'market positioning', of course - not academic integrity. Roll on retirement is all I can say.

Incidentally, does Canada ask for proof of proficiency from English-speaking countries like Nigeria?

As an afterthought, I have worked with quite a few Nigerian RNs, They had perfect English, with excellent skills.