Registration
requirements are designed to keep
patients
safe and language requirements are one of these
safety
measures. So while there is an understanding from
both
migrants and industry spokespeople that patient
safety
is paramount, and that speaking English is important
(Fig.
1), the testing system causes concern for many
migrating
health professionals. Group A, as industry
spokespeople,
were concerned about raising standards
and
public perceptions of health professionals, so mostly
welcomed
the need for a high score. Group B, as migrating
health
professionals and students, were concerned with
the
anxiety produced by the test and the cost of the test.
However
both groups indicated a concern with the suitability of the IELTS as a testing system for health
professionals