NHS Therapist Dismissed After Misrepresenting English Language Proficiency
A speech and language therapist employed by the National Health Service has been terminated from her position after it was discovered she had falsely claimed English was her native language on her job application. Sai Keerthana Sriperambuduru joined the York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in October 2023, but was dismissed eight months later following a series of concerning incidents regarding her communication abilities.
Deceptive Application and Early Concerns
On her initial application form, Ms Sriperambuduru explicitly stated that English was her first language, which exempted her from providing evidence of language proficiency. However, within weeks of beginning her role, colleagues quickly identified significant communication problems. She appeared unable to effectively communicate with patients or even fellow staff members, raising immediate red flags about her suitability for the position.
During a review meeting on November 7, 2023, Ms Sriperambuduru admitted that Telugu was actually her native language, contradicting her earlier claim. She explained that she was taking regular English lessons outside of work, but confessed to struggling with transcribing conversations, particularly when children or parents spoke rapidly.
Regulatory Hearing and Professional Consequences
The case was brought before the Health and Care Professions Tribunal Service (HCPTS), where Ms Sriperambuduru argued that her education had been conducted in English and therefore she genuinely believed it could be considered her first language. In a written submission to the panel, she stated: "I did not understand that the HCPC definition required English to be the primary language used in all day-to-day life circumstances as understood in the UK regulatory context."
However, the tribunal panel rejected this explanation, concluding that she had intentionally deceived the Trust to secure employment. They noted particularly suspicious behavior during her application process, including her request to use a chat-box facility for typing questions during interviews instead of engaging in face-to-face conversation. Her line manager described this as "very unusual" given that Ms Sriperambuduru was living in the United Kingdom at the time.
Professional Requirements and Performance Issues
The speech and language therapist role demands exceptional communication skills, as practitioners must accurately assess and document patients' speech difficulties. This includes precise attention to punctuation, sentence structure, grammar, and phonetic transcription. Ms Sriperambuduru's line manager reported deficiencies in both her conversational and written English within just two weeks of her employment.
During her second probation meeting, Ms Sriperambuduru again highlighted her transcription challenges, specifically mentioning difficulty keeping pace with fast-speaking children and parents. Her manager emphasized that accurate transcriptions are crucial for recording patients' sounds and identifying speech difficulties, making language proficiency non-negotiable for the position.
Institutional Response and Ongoing Implications
A spokesperson for York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust confirmed: "Ms Sai Keerthana Sriperambuduru was employed by York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust between October 2023 and June 2024. Her employment was terminated in June 2024." The Trust referred the matter to the Health and Care Professions Council, and Ms Sriperambuduru has been removed from the professional register, preventing her from working in similar roles within the UK healthcare system.
The application form for the position clearly states: "Is English your first language? You should only indicate that English is your first language if it is the main or only language you use on a day-to-day basis. Having studied English or undertaken education or training at an institution where the medium of instruction is English does not necessarily mean that English is your first language." This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of honesty in professional applications and the critical need for language proficiency in healthcare roles where clear communication directly impacts patient care.
