New review into healthcare assistant training to be launched

A review examining how the training and support of healthcare and care assistants could be strengthened in the UK is to be launched by the Department of Health.

Led by the Times journalist Camilla Cavendish, the independent review will run until the end of May 2013 and will look at how to strengthen support for these professionals in order to ensure the service they offer is of the highest quality.

It will also take account of how recruitment processes need to evolve to ensure the right people bring the best possible values and behaviours to appropriate settings, thus ensuring that the failings seen in the recent Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust case are not repeated.

Priorities include ensuring people get the right training, development and feedback, as well as consistent development opportunities to allow them to progress into senior roles.

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

Mr Hunt has previously stated his intention of creating a version of the NHS that focuses more on the individual needs of patients, with reviewing care standards being a key element of this.