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Healthcare Assistant Believes HCA’s are Left “Stuck in the Mud” Following Lack of Representation by Unions.

As doctors and nurses across the country continue to strike, thousands of UK residents can expect to miss out on crucial surgeries and appointments, however, not all healthcare workers feel their needs are being represented by Unions. 


Keith Glazebrook, 56, is a healthcare assistant at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital in Oswestry. He believes healthcare assistants are being unfairly overlooked in current discussions between Unions and the Government, “The nurses striking at the moment have every right to, we all work in the most vital field there is.” 


“We see horrible, deeply saddening things day in, day out but they also fail to understand that we’re there with them; we’re taking samples and helping around the wards but even if nurses are successful with their strikes, us HCA’s [healthcare assistants] are still stuck in the mud.”


Unlike doctors and nurses, who require years of medical education, healthcare assistants only undergo a training course of 15 general care modules before entering the workplace.


Healthcare assistants help doctors and nurses with patient care and ward maintenance, Keith explains, “I mainly work with the older patients on the wards, feeding and washing them, helping them to the toilet but after some extra training we can also do blood and urine tests. So a lot of the work people think nurses do is actually us.”


 “Right now, I'm on sick leave for my heart problems but I’m usually meant to work 10-7 five or so days a week, though it's not uncommon me staying past that time to help tidy round until night care staff take over, in fact, I do that most days.”


Keith’s wife, Claire Glazebrook, is a self-employed hairdresser. Claire worries that the high demand of the job may be too much for her husband, she says, “I don't think it’s fair at all, Keith is constantly stressed. Working horribly long shifts, seeing people in the worst stages of life and death, and doing all the work none of the doctors and nurses want to.” 


“He brings all the stress from work home with him and some nights I can see it playing on his mind, it’s like he can’t switch off.”


In the past three years, Keith has had more than five minor heart attacks. As a result of a hereditary heart condition, Keith has required multiple stent fittings and bypass graft surgeries resulting in a reliance on paid sick leave.


Claire added, “With his heart condition I just worry one day it's all going to be too much and I might lose him.”


“I’m so grateful he gets as much sick leave as he does but I do wonder sometimes, maybe if he was working somewhere else, would he still need it?“


Whereas doctors and nurses are guaranteed job security by the NHS and Union representatives, healthcare assistants and support workers do not always receive the same benefits. 


 “If I were to strike I doubt anyone would take me seriously, that or I’d be sacked,” Keith explains.

 

“I just wish we could see a little more support from the government and unions, with money and prices the way they’re going right now I don't know how much longer we can afford to work like this.”


Claire believes healthcare assistants deserve more credit than they receive, “they do a lot of good work and really fill in for these doctors and nurses when they’re understaffed or occupied.” 


“In Lockdown, we were out clapping for the doctors, nurses and carers but not once did I hear anyone talk about healthcare assistants.”


Annual pay for healthcare assistants starts at £18,000, like many other jobs in healthcare and medicine this is just not enough to live on, Keith describes, “It’s not great money. Without going into too much detail, we still struggle come to the end of the month and most days I think about looking for something else, maybe retail?” 


“I don't know where else would hire me given my current condition so I have to stay, and if something were to happen to me on shift maybe it is the best place to be.”


Currently, only one major Union claims to offer support for healthcare assistants. To learn more about the services UNISON offer for healthcare assistants and support workers, visit https://www.unison.org.uk/at-work/health-care/representing-you/nursing/healthcare-assistants/ 

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