Accessibility tools

Healthcare assistant

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Health Care Assistant uniform

Healthcare assistants work under the guidance of a healthcare professional such as a nurse and their job will vary depending on where they are based.

For example, in a hospital they may:

  • wash and dress patients
  • serve meals and help to feed patients
  • help people to move around
  • make beds
  • make patients feel comfortable
  • monitor patients' conditions by taking temperatures, pulse, respirations and weight

In a health centres and GP surgery, they may

  • sterilise equipment
  • do health checks
  • restock consulting rooms
  • process lab samples
  • take blood samples
  • do health promotion or health education work

As well as nurses, HCAs work with doctors, midwives and other healthcare professionals. They have a lot of contact with patients.