Health Care Assistant

Health Care Assistant Location : Edenbridge Medical Practice Accountable to : Practice Manager Hours of Duty: variable according to contract The Practice – 6 partners working from Edenbridge Medical Practice Relationship with Other Members of Staff – This practice believes in team effort and has worked very hard to build a team feeling within the staff. The holder of this position takes part in this team and interacts with all members of staff. Attendance at quarterly nurses meetings is mandatory. Job Summary The Health Care Assistant is part of the Primary Health Care Team and as such shares responsibility for the Treatment Room and the performance of routine nursing related duties. Principal Responsibilities Phlebotomy duties. To take and, where appropriate, dispatch laboratory specimens including blood, urine, swabs and other diagnostic tests as required by GPs. Making sure they are ready for collection by the designated collection time, or alternatively storing them in the fridge for next day collection. Setting up the ECG machine to take ECG’s and making sure that they have been analysed by a GP. Carrying out blood pressure checks as well as fitting and removal of the 24 hour blood pressure monitor. To prepare the examination areas and instruments and to assist the GPs in minor operations, coil fittings and other clinics. To advise patients on health care, minor ailments, health promotion and illness prevention. To support the nursing team in: Antenatal clinics, Diabetic clinics, Smoking Cessation clinics, CHD clinics, Healthy eating and weight management, Flu clinics, Minor operations, Coil and Implant clinics. To undertake basic wound care and suture/clip removal, assisting the nurses. To undertake NHS Health checks. Carrying out ear irrigation, having been adequately trained. To administer flu, pneumonia, and B12 injections having been adequately trained. To share supervisory responsibilities with the Practice Nurses if appropriate for the management of the treatment room, stock control and ordering of drugs, leaflets and medical supplies. To ensure that all medical equipment is regularly and adequately maintained and in date and ensure that all clinical rooms are adequately stocked with medical equipment etc. To ensure that fridge temperatures are regularly monitored. To maintain high standards of tidiness, hygiene and safety in the use of all equipment and areas of work, in line with the Practice Health and Safety policy, Infection Control Policy as well as all other Practice policies and procedures. To undertake any additional duties as may from time to time be deemed necessary, including working across sites. To liaise with and communicate effectively with other members of the Primary Health Care Team. To attend courses and study days as required or thought necessary to maintain high standards and to record these as part of continuing professional development. (These may be in the evenings and weekends). Any Other Duties As specified by the Partners in accordance with training and experience. The job description may be reviewed and altered at periodic intervals following consultation with the post holder However, is by no means restrictive. Record Keeping Use of the Patient Management computer system, accurately maintaining patients’ records. Confidentiality: It is essential that information to which the Healthcare Assistant has access with regards to patients and staff should be treated in the strictest confidence. Any breach of such confidence would be regarded as grounds for disciplinary action. Edenbridge Medical Practice Edenbridge Memorial Health Centre Four Elms Road, Edenbridge TN8 6FY #J-18808-Ljbffr