NEIL O’CONNOR

SUPPORT IN PRACTICE

Small steps with big results NHS Change Day is a good time for HCAs to demonstrate the importance of their role on the ward. Jenny Knight reports March 3 marks the second NHS Change Day, which aims to inspire and encourage staff and the public to pledge to do something to improve care. The target for 2014 is half a million pledges and the increased enthusiasm of healthcare assistants is an exciting development because they are among the NHS staff in closest contact with patients. HCA Phillip Ayres, who works in the outpatients’ department

at Lister Hospital, Stevenage, has promised to make patient confidentiality his priority. ‘I work in clinics where I call the patient to do observations such as blood pressure and urine samples. I have to stop myself from talking about a patient while I am behind the nursing desk where other patients might hear. A pledge makes you aware of what the job involves, and patients benefit.’ Ward sister Maria Davison at Bolsover Hospital in Derbyshire,

is East Midlands lead for NHS Change Day. She said: ‘HCAs are so important because they are where the care starts. Once someone pledges and is involved they take ownership of their jobs and become more positive.’ Among the HCAs from Bolsover Hospital who have made pledges are Carol Fokinther who wants to ensure that patients receive help to eat their meals, Margaret Buxton, who pledges to call patients by their chosen name, and Christopher Haywood who pledges to offer patients personal care at a time that suits them, not when routine dictates. Mr Haywood says: ‘Sometimes, patients are feeling poorly and vulnerable and do not want to wash and dress immediately. A bit of choice can make all the difference.’ Ms Buxton says: ‘Most people like their first name, but some like to be called Mr or Mrs’ NS Jenny Knight is a freelance journalist

Pictured above are HCAs Carol Fokinther (far left) and Christopher Haywood (right) with ward sister Maria Davison and a patient

RESOURCES NHS Change Day changeday.nhs.uk Twitter @nhschangeday; #nhschangeday

MANDATORY TRAINING STRUCTURE VITAL BEFORE GENERAL ELECTION One of the government’s recommendations following the Francis and Cavendish reports was for a national, mandatory qualification in fundamental care for all healthcare assistants. Between them, the health and social care sectors employ around 1.3 million unregistered care workers, some of whom, according to the Cavendish report, receive no training before embarking on their care roles. The Department of Health insists that all HCAs have the right to fundamental skills training. The NHS training body Health Education England says the fact that HCAs

NURSING STANDARD

deliver more direct care than any other staff group in the NHS or in the social care sector, yet receive less training and resources than any other group, needs to be addressed. HCAs may also be given a universal new title of nursing assistant – rather than there being several different job titles as at present. This might help to eliminate confusion about their roles. It is hoped that these measures will be implemented fully before the next general election so that training for HCAs is not jettisoned by any subsequent political reorganisation. Hopefully, the care qualification will be certificated by an examination

board and recognised by universities. In this way, qualification may help with career progression into senior HCA, assistant practitioner and nursing roles. Susan Webb is training and assessing consultant, PDM training and consultancy Health education England www.hee.nhs.uk Skills for Health www.skillsforhealth.org.uk Skills for Care www.skillsforcare.org.uk february 26 :: vol 28 no 26 :: 2014 63

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Small steps with big results.

March 3 marks the second NHS Change Day, which aims to inspire and encourage staff and the public to pledge to do something to improve care...
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