Indian-Origin NHS Worker in UK Dismissed Over English Proficiency

An Indian-origin speech therapist in UK was dismissed after admitting she could not fully understand English, despite claiming it as her first language in her job application. Sai Keerthana Sriperambuduru struggled to communicate with patients and staff, leading to her removal after probation. A tribunal later ruled she tried to mislead employer.

An Indian-origin woman working as a Speech and Language Therapist in the United Kingdom has been dismissed after concerns were raised about her ability to understand and communicate in English. Sai Keerthana Sriperambuduru joined the York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in October 2023. She worked as a Band 5 paediatric speech and language therapist. However, within weeks of starting her role, colleagues noticed that she was struggling to understand both patients and staff.

Questions raised soon after joining 

According to reports, Sriperambuduru had stated in her job application that English was her first language. Because of this, she was not required to provide proof of language proficiency. But problems became clear early on. Co-workers found it difficult to communicate with her, and there were concerns about her ability to carry out her duties safely. As a speech and language therapist, clear communication is a key part of the job, especially when working with children and families.

Review meetings reveal issues

The hospital held a review meeting on November 7, 2023. During this meeting, Sriperambuduru admitted that Telugu, not English, was her first language. In another review meeting held in December, she said she had started taking English lessons outside work. She also shared that she found it hard to understand fast speech, especially from children and parents. She faced difficulties with pronunciation, sentence structure, grammar, and writing down conversations.

Unusual request during hiring process 

Her line manager told the panel that during the hiring process, Sriperambuduru had asked for a chat-box option for the interview. This meant that questions would be typed instead of asked face-to-face. The manager described this as unusual, especially since she was already living in the UK at the time. The panel later saw this request as a possible attempt to hide her language difficulties.

Dismissal after probation period 

After completing eight months of probation, Sriperambuduru was dismissed in June 2024. The Trust said it could not continue to provide the level of support she needed without affecting patient care and the wider team. A spokesperson confirmed that her employment lasted from October 2023 to June 2024. Reports of her dismissal came to light only recently.

Tribunal and panel findings

Sriperambuduru challenged the decision and took the case to the Health and Care Professions Tribunal Service (HCPTS). She argued that her education was in English, and she believed it could be considered her first language. In her written submission, she said she did not realise that the UK definition required English to be the main language used in daily life. She also admitted later that she had not taken the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam before coming to the UK. However, the panel rejected her arguments. It ruled that she had tried to mislead the Trust about her language ability to secure the job. As a result, she was removed from the professional register.

Clear rules on language requirements 

The application form clearly asks candidates whether English is their first language. It also explains that this means the main language used in everyday life. The form states that studying in English or completing education in English does not automatically make it a person’s first language.

This case has raised questions about language checks in sensitive roles like healthcare. Experts say strong communication skills are essential, especially when dealing with patients. The incident also shows how important it is to provide correct information during job applications.