This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
Healthcare assistants expected to do nurses’ work
A UNISON survey has revealed that, despite not having adequate training or proper supervision, healthcare assistants (HCAs) are being expected to do the work of nurses.
The union’s research of 2,000 HCAs found that 63 per cent report being left to care for patients without enough support from doctors and nurses, even though 39 per cent of HCAs say they do not feel confident that those they are caring for are safe.
More than half also claim that they have not received adequate training for performing regular nursing tasks, including dressing the wounds of patients, giving out medication and changing stoma bags.
Matching the general feeling across the healthcare sector, UNISON say that HCAs are having to take on extra work due to nursing and other staff shortages.
Sara Gorton, UNISO head of health, said: “Healthcare assistants are being left to fill staffing gaps and do vital tasks without recognition or reward. It’s bad for them and bad for patients. It is important these staff receive training for all the extra responsibilities they’re expected to take on. It’s clear the pressures on them to act as nurse substitutes have increased over the winter. The government needs to show they value healthcare assistants by investing in their training.”
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