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Training and recruitment of healthcare assistants in practices to be reviewed

The Government has announced an independent review into the recruitment and training of healthcare assistants, including those employed in GP practices.

The review - led by Times journalist Camilla Cavendish - will look at how to ‘raise training standards’ and ensure HCAs have the relevant support, development and feedback to provide ‘compassionate and competent care’.

The review was prompted by the Francis Inquiry into high death rates at Mid Stafforshire NHS Foundation Trust.

Health secretary Jeremy Hunt said: ‘We want everyone receiving treatment and support across the health and care sector to get the safest, most effective and most compassionate care.

‘So we need to make sure that the staff tasked with carrying out some of the most personal and fundamental jobs have the skills, values and behaviours needed to provide this.’

Ms Cavendish said: ‘There are more care assistants than nurses in this country. Many of us will rely on them in old age, and we need them to be as good as they can possibly be.’

She will report back to the Government at the end of May.