NHS radiographer who couldn't speak English finally struck off after six years The panel heard that he was branded "dangerous" in an internal assessment. In June last year, his performance was rated as "unacceptable" in every area. The three-day hearing heard that Mr Ramaswamy's English was so bad he had asked a patient to confirm their identity four times before colleagues were forced to intervene to repeat what he was saying. Even his supervisor could not understand what he was saying, despite him repeating a question for her a number of times. A senior colleague described his practice as being a bit of a "hit or a miss" and said he was often confused by basic calculations and read numbers out incorrectly. The panel heard that Mr Ramaswamy was recruited from India as an experienced radiographer and started work in August 2005. Concerns about his communication skills meant that he was initially restricted to a role that ensured he had no contact with patients. He was transferred to the treatment planning department four years later for a three-month trial. The trial proved unsuccessful with staff reporting that he found basic skills difficult to learn. An improvement plan was subsequently put in place and he was moved to the treatment floor, where he was closely monitored but was found to have difficulty with communication as well as poor technical skills and knowledge. Mr Ramaswamy was eventually suspended and dismissed following a hearing last August. The panel's report concluded that his fitness to practice was impaired. "His communication skills, even after six years at the Trust, were poor and he was recorded as keeping his communication with patients to a minimum and to be difficult to understand, being regularly asked to repeat himself," it said. The deficiencies identified by the panel have the potential to cause serious harm to patients. Mr Ramaswamy, who did not attend the hearing, claimed that the sanctions were unfair and that most of the allegations had exaggerated. "It's totally ridiculous," he said. I previously worked in Malaysia and I was very well respected. The Christie said there were communication problems but I speak good English. I may be a little reserved. Mr Ramaswamy said he had now retired and was not looking for work: A spokesman for The Christie said no treatments were affected and no patients were put at risk by the radiographer's actions. He said: "He spent the vast majority of his time in treatment planning which involves no contact with patients. We are satisfied that our systems and processes have enabled us to identify this problem and deal with it appropriately.