2007•Practice NursingRequires access
Skill mix evolution: HCAs in general practice
Hilary Andrews, Paul Vaughan
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Abstract
The role of the nurse's aide has been important since the inception of the NHS in 1948. Under the title of health care assistant (HCA), this role has grown in general practice since the 1990s, contributing to the skill mix of the general practice team. However, data on the number of HCAs working in general practice is difficult to obtain. A telephone survey was undertaken to estimate how many HCAs are working in general practice in England. The sample comprised 922 practices (11.1% of the total). It was found that 55% of practices employed one or more HCA.