Deficiencies in some pharmacists' English language skills are causing concern, the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has warned.

There was a "real concern" that language competency could be an issue in some cases, and the issue "needed to be taken seriously", GPhC chief executive Duncan Rudkin (pictured) told C+D.

And the council had identified language skills as being a problem in two fitness to practise cases, Mr Rudkin revealed.

"There is reasonably limited evidence as to whether it's causing problems, but I think there's a real concern that it could do and it needs to be taken seriously," he argued. "There's a real sense that it's a legitimate issue and that it's causing concern."

The council has previously called for similar regulations to the General Medical Council, which was granted powers to test doctors' language competencies in October. Mr Rudkin stressed that the council would "take every opportunity" to raise the issue in future.