title: Lack of language skills and knowledge of local culture in international medical graduates: Implications for the NHS.
abstract: International Medical Graduates (IMGs) form a coherent part of the National Health Service (NHS). Nearly 25% of the doctors working in the NHS are IMGs who obtained their primary medical degree from outside the EU. Moving to a different country that holds a different set of values and belief systems can be very challenging for IMGs, which in turn could have a significant effect on the service provided to NHS patients. This article will address the issue of effective communication skills within the IMG population and will explore the underlying issues behind this problem.
authors.affiliation: a The Hatter Cardiovascular Institute, University College London , 67 Chenies Mews, London, UK.
authors.forename: Ashraf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hamarneh
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D003469:Culture; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005550:Foreign Medical Graduates; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D013222:State Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: International medical graduates; national health service; patient-centered care; the professional and linguistic assessments board exam