Interim orders and not having the necessary knowledge of English

Overview

Since the main purpose of an interim order is to protect the public while the case is being investigated, when a case involves language concerns the following factors should be considered:

• The severity of any actual or potential clinical risk or harm caused to patients, which is related to the alleged lack of knowledge of English.
• The results of any language assessment taken by the nurse or midwife, and
• any refusal or persistent failure to undergo an assessment.

Ensuring we are proportionate

Panels will always assess whether workable and proportionate conditions can be applied to deal with the risks presented by the nurse or midwife’s knowledge of English.

In doing this, the panel should bear in mind the powers available to the Registrar when investigating the case, one of which includes a power to direct the nurse or midwife to take a language test and provide us with the results by a specific date.

So for example a proportionate measure to protect patients could include supervision or observation by other nurses or midwives, whereas ordering a nurse or midwife to take a language test would be less proportionate in terms of protecting the public.

If an interim order is imposed, a practice committee will review it regularly.