Dr Tomasz Fryzlewicz in Manchester following his hearing (Image: Cavendish Press)
Dr Tomasz Fryzlewicz, 65, moved to the UK in 2006 from Krakow, Poland, and worked at various NHS hospitals both as a locum and non-clinical roles analysing echocardiogram data for clinical trials.
But the cardiologist with 39-years of qualified experience was reported to the General Medical Council (GMC) in 2014 when repeatedly failing English language tests under the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
He has since appeared before fitness to practice medicine panels every year repeatedly failing each exam re-sit – despite stressing he’s been watching TV and listening to Radio 4 to boost his English.
Now a hearing of the Medical Practitioners Service, in Manchester, Dr Fryzlewicz was suspended for 12 months and offered a 10th chance to pass his exams after he failed to produce any certificates.
Dr Fryzlewicz, of Plymouth, cannot be struck off by the GMC over language issues. Instead he will face his 11th reviewing hearing next year.
In response Dr Tomasz Fryzlewicz defiantly claimed he had been the victim of a ‘witch-hunt’ and said: “This is incorrect political pressure on doctors.”
He declined to the attend the hearing but emailed the MPTS claiming he could not afford a barrister to represent him.
Dr Fryzlewicz blasted GMC investigators as “un-humanitarian bureaucrats” claiming he was a victim of “indirect discrimination” due to his nationality and said “revenge was being sought” as he was “a Polish, Catholic cardiologist consultant earning money in UK hospitals.”
Fryzlewicz had initially 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 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.”
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. He took another test but only scored 6.5. He re-sat again the following year but only got 5.5.
After being originally reported to the GMC he was initially allowed to work under supervision but at his third tribunal in 2017 he was suspended for six months after failing to improve his English.
He was readmitted to work under supervision in 2018 but banned again in 2020 for 12 months, with another 10 month ban in 2021.
In 2022 Dr Fryzlewicz was allowed back into medical practise -with a condition he successfully passed the exam within the next 18 months at the eighth time of asking.
His latest overall test results were 5.5 and 6.0 in January 2023 and July 2023 respectively. By 2023 he was banned again for 12 months and given a ninth opportunity to take them again after failing the tests twice in eight months.
Counsel for the GMC, Emma Gilsenan(corr), said: “Dr Fryzlewicz’s attitude towards the regulator and the requirement that he must attain the minimum standard of English, is concerning.
“His communications show he is more focused on what he believes to be political and religious persecution by the GMC, rather than on addressing the concerns in this case.”
While MPTS chairman Mr Sean Kyne said: “There is no evidence Dr Fryzlewicz has a good command of the English language.
“He continues to focus on what he perceives to be the unfairness of his circumstances and his mistaken belief that the level of his English language is at the required standard to be able to practise medicine safely in the UK.”