Britain's decision to leave the European Union will make patients safer by allowing the NHS to crack down on poor English skills among staff, the country's top surgeon has said.

Clare Marx, President of the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS), urged health bosses to "seize the moment" by toughening up English language entry tests.

She added that leaving EU working time rules would significantly improve patient safety by allowing surgeons to undergo thousands of hours of extra training.

Shaking off Brussels regulations may also ensure higher standards of surgical equipment, she said.