AN EVALUATION OF THE FUNCTIONING AND EFFICACY OF THE HEALTHCARE ASSISTANT PROGRAMME IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.
Keywords:
Healthcare Assistants, Patient Outcomes, NHS Workforce, Systematic Review, UK HealthcareAbstract
BACKGROUND: Healthcare assistant programmes are crucial in delivering healthcare services in the United Kingdom. These programmes educate and prepare individuals to provide direct care and support to patients, ensuring that healthcare facilities operate efficiently. However, the lingering effects of COVID-19 saw an increased staff shortage to 1 in 13 healthcare workers in hospital vacancies, with nearly 11,000 vacancies requiring physicians, nurses, and care workers (Healthcare assistants and support workers) in the NHS and another Critical issue of Funding which has plagued the National Health Service and led to nurses, midwives, and doctors exiting their professions due to the Trust’s inability to increase pay or hire more, professionally trained staff to reduce the workload. Thus, the demand for healthcare services continues to rise, prompting a proper evaluation of the efficacy and productivity of healthcare assistant programmes as their roles have become increasingly important.
AIM: To assess the performance of healthcare assistants in providing patient care and enhancing patient outcomes within the UK healthcare system, as well as their challenges.
METHODOLOGY: Systematic Review research adopted in this paper was a Mixed Method approach because it yielded insights and knowledge that could not have been obtained through a single research design. This methodology followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. In compliance with the Cochrane Collaboration, a comprehensive search strategy comprising multiple databases was implemented for this research. CINAHIL, PubMed, ScienceDirect, EBSCOhost, Health Inter-Network Access to Research Initiative (HINARI), and Cochrane Library. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT tool) was the preferred checklist for this review because of its ease of use and applicability to reviews that involve different study designs, which helped to gauge the internal and external validity of the research, considering factors like potential bias, confounding variables, and generalizability of findings. The studies' strengths and limitations were also carefully identified. A narrative synthesis constituted the most appropriate means of integrating the results of this review. The health belief model was employed in structuring the narrative synthesis in evaluating the functioning and efficacy of the healthcare assistant programme in the United Kingdom.
RESULTS: Healthcare Assistants (HCAs) in the UK play crucial roles in direct patient care, supporting healthcare professionals, and managing administrative tasks, enhancing the efficiency of healthcare systems. The versatility and positive impact of HCAs on patient outcomes and overall care quality cannot be overlooked. Their roles extend beyond tasks to encompass a compassionate, patient-centred approach, benefiting patients and the healthcare team. Addressing challenges can further optimise their effectiveness in the healthcare system.
CONCLUSION: To maximise the potential of Health Care Assistants within the United Kingdom, policymakers should prioritise standardised training, role clarification, and emotional support. In Addition, Research efforts should focus on long-term impacts that foster collaboration with other healthcare professionals. HCAs remain central to patient-centric care, operational efficiency, and the overall success of healthcare systems, deserving recognition and support for their invaluable contributions.
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