A Polish heart doctor who was twice suspended due to his poor English skills has been given an eighth opportunity to pass his language exams by a disciplinary panel.
Dr Tomasz Fryzlewicz, 63, had moved to the UK in 2006 from his home city of Krakow in Poland and worked at various NHS hospitals as a locum and also a in a non-clinical role, analysing echocardiogram data for clinical trials.
But the cardiologist, who qualified in medicine 35 years ago, was reported to the General Medical Council in 2014 after repeatedly failing English language exams under the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), which graded him on his speaking, listening, reading and writing.
He has since appeared before ‘fitness to practice’ medicine panels on an annual basis after failing various resits, despite insisting he watched BBC TV shows and listened to Radio 4 in a bid to pick up better English.
Initially Fryzlewicz, of Plymouth, who has previously been branded a risk to patients over his language issues, was allowed to work in hospitals under supervision.
But at his third tribunal in 2017 he was suspended for six months after he failed to improve his English skills to a required standard.
Dr Tomasz Fryzlewicz, 63, was reported to the General Medical Council in 2014 after repeatedly failing English language exams under the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), which tested him on his speaking, listening, reading and writing
He was readmitted to work under supervision in 2018 but was banned again in 2020 for 12 months and then given a further 10 month ban last year and offered the chance to pass a medical version of the Occupational English Test (OET) instead.
On Thursday it emerged Fryzlewicz had been allowed back to practice medicine – with a condition he successfully passes the exam within the next 18 months at the eighth time of asking.
During a review hearing the doctor said he was the victim of a ‘cocktail of lies and semi-lies’ and urged a disciplinary panel to re-instate him claiming it should not ‘allow evil to win.’
The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service had previously been advised to suspend Fryzlewicz for life. He cannot be struck off over language issues.
Earlier Fryzlewicz had condemned GMC investigators as ‘un-humanitarian bureaucrats’ and accused them of engaging in a ‘witch hunt.’
He also claimed he was a victim of ‘indirect discrimination’ due to his nationality.
In a letter the doctor alleged the GMC ‘put pressure’ on an IELTS examiner not to give him higher marks and also on a senior colleague to change their ‘positive opinion about him.
The note added: ‘GMC bureaucrats are using unworkable and unproportioned measures, rather than looking at a workable solution to my situation.’
Previous hearings were told Fryzlewicz had been fired from the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow and University College London Hospital due to concerns about his language skills before being offered a post in cardiology at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.
That offer fell through after he sent various emails in broken English in which wrote of sending ‘a massage’ and adding: ‘I still don’t get answer and nobody contact with me. Once more I sent this information and please contact with me.’
He first took the IELTS test in October 2014 and was required to get a minimum score of 7.5 but only got an overall mark of just 5.5.
Initially Fryzlewicz, of Plymouth, who has previously been branded a risk to patients over his language issues, was allowed to work in hospitals under supervision
He then took another test of his own volition but only scored 6.5. He re-sat again the following year but only got 5.5.
Fryzlewicz later pledged to begin 250 hours of English lessons and agreed to work under the supervision of a consultant but was still unable to attain a score of 7.5 in his IELTS exam despite repeated reviews of his performance.
He later passed English and GCSE level and he produced a list of books he had read plus certificates relating to English language he had recently undertaken. The latest tribunal panel was given copies of Lingoda Certificates relating to English tests the doctor successfully sat plus a summary of classes completed between June June 2021 and January 2022.
But counsel for the GMC Ms Janet Ironfield told the Manchester hearing: ‘Dr Fryzlewicz’s fitness to practise remains impaired by reason of not having the necessary knowledge of English. The onus is on him to demonstrate via evidence that he now has a sufficient level of English language to practise safely.
‘Dr Fryzlewicz’s comments and written letters relating to him being persecuted by the GMC, the IELTS tests not being reliable and were a revenge against Polish doctors, are against him having insight.
‘He is distracted by his feelings of persecution and despite hours of online study being completed prior to taking the most recent IELTS test, this was not sufficient to bring Dr Fryzlewicz’s English language to the required threshold. Lingoda certificates are insufficient to counter Dr Fryzlewicz’s recent IELTS results.
‘There is evidence that Dr Fryzlewicz has made efforts since the last review hearing to improve his knowledge of English but it is not at a sufficient standard to ensure patient safety.’
Fryzlewicz who represented himself said he was originally referred to the GMC following ‘gossip’ by two individuals and claimed ‘multiple other individuals had vouched for his good knowledge of English.’
He said the GMC had organised ‘press slander’ which included a ‘cocktail of lies and semi-lies’ and claimed ‘revenge was being sought as he was a Polish, Catholic cardiologist consultant earning money in UK hospitals.’
He said the GMC ‘acts against the public and patients, but that he does everything to help and save patients.’
He explained he had undertaken lessons and exams in the last nine months to improve his English and has achieved a high score through Lingoda.
The doctor said he was not currently earning and his family has been ‘devastated’ by the proceedings.
Previous hearings heard that Dr Fryzlewicz was offered a post in cardiology at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford (pictured) but the offer fell through after he sent emails in broken English
He said doctors have a ‘human right to defend their dignity, health and patients’ adding: ‘I need respect, money and the ability to work. Please show solidarity and make a proper and proportionate decision. You cannot allow evil to win.’
Appealing for the ‘right to work’, Fryzlewicz said he had ‘very near to the necessary level of English’ and said ‘in the proper environment, such as under supervision in a hospital, his English would improve.’
MPTS chairman Julia Oakford imposed a series of conditions on the doctor’s registration and said: ‘ Dr Fryzlewicz’s efforts to improve his English language skills by undertaking extensive online study via Lingoda demonstrated that he has a certain level of insight into the need for his English language skills to improve.
‘Despite his views about the IELTS test, he still subjected himself to the test and achieved an acceptable score in two of the four areas. The Tribunal was of the view that a period of supervised working has the potential to assist Dr Fryzlewicz in improving his knowledge of English.
‘It was satisfied that conditional registration which included close supervision would be adequate to protect patient safety and maintain public confidence in the medical profession, whilst enabling Dr Fryzlewicz to progress with his English and professional development.’
A ninth disciplinary hearing will be held next year to review the doctor’s progress.
Previously, only doctors from outside the EU could have their language skills tested by the GMC but this was reviewed following the case of a Nigerian-born German doctor who injected a patient with a lethal dose of morphine, in part due to his poor English whilst on his first shift as a locum doctor in 2008.
