Healthcare Assistant (HCA) General Practice Experience EssentialNHS

Job summary

Grosvenor House Surgery in West Ealing is looking for an experienced Healthcare Assistant to join our friendly practice team.

Previous experience working as an HCA in a GP practice is essential. We are seeking someone who is confident supporting patients in general practice, well organised and committed to delivering safe, compassionate care.

You will work closely with our nurses, GPs and wider practice team, undertaking clinical tasks within your training and competence. Your work will support health checks, long-term condition monitoring, preventative care and the smooth running of clinical services.

This is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference where continuity of care and teamwork matter. We welcome someone who takes pride in their work, communicates effectively and brings a proactive approach to supporting patients and colleagues.

Main duties of the job

Providing a range of healthcare assistant services to support patient care according to training and competence

Undertaking phlebotomy and blood pressure checks alongside routine measurements including height and weight

Supporting NHS Health Checks and long-term condition reviews including cardiovascular renal and metabolic health checks to inform clinical assessment and care planning

Providing healthy lifestyle advice and supporting patients to manage their health

Preparing clinical rooms and maintaining equipment and stock levels

Supporting infection prevention and control through regular checks and safe working practices

Recording care accurately on SystmOne and reporting findings or concerns promptly to the appropriate clinician

Managing allocated appointments and working within agreed protocols and assessed competence

Job description

Job title: Healthcare Assistant

Location: Grosvenor House Surgery, West Ealing

Job purpose

To provide safe, effective and compassionate healthcare assistant services as part of the practice team. The post holder will support the assessment, monitoring and ongoing care of patients, working within agreed protocols and their training and assessed competence.

Previous experience working as a Healthcare Assistant in a GP practice is essential.

Clinical responsibilities

• Undertake phlebotomy, ensuring correct patient identification, sample labelling, documentation and safe handling of specimens.
• Carry out blood pressure and pulse checks, height and weight measurements and BMI calculations, recording findings accurately.
• Support NHS Health Checks and long-term condition reviews by completing appropriate checks and gathering information for clinical assessment.
• Support cardiovascular, renal and metabolic health reviews, including initial checks for patients on the practices CRM pathways.
• Undertake diabetic foot checks and other monitoring activities where appropriately trained and assessed as competent.
• Carry out ECG recordings where trained and competent. Previous ECG experience is desirable, and training may be considered.
• Support patients with home blood pressure monitoring and other monitoring equipment where trained.
• Undertake additional delegated clinical duties following appropriate training, assessment and authorisation.
• Recognise findings outside agreed parameters and report these promptly to the appropriate clinician.
• Recognise and respond to a deteriorating or unwell patient, seeking immediate clinical assistance and following practice emergency procedures.

Health promotion and patient support

• Provide lifestyle advice within the scope of the role, including healthy eating, physical activity, smoking cessation and alcohol awareness.
• Use a supportive, person-centred approach to encourage patients to take an active role in managing their health.
• Signpost patients to appropriate practice services and other sources of support.
• Explain procedures clearly, obtain and document consent, and respect patients dignity, privacy and preferences.
• Adapt communication to meet patients language, sensory, learning and other accessibility needs.

Clinical rooms, equipment and stock

• Prepare clinical rooms and equipment before appointments and leave rooms clean, safe and ready for use.
• Complete and document allocated room, equipment and infection prevention checks.
• Clean and decontaminate equipment in accordance with practice procedures.
• Monitor stock levels and expiry dates, rotate supplies and arrange replenishment.
• Report equipment faults, maintenance requirements and environmental hazards promptly.
• Support emergency equipment checks and vaccine fridge monitoring where allocated and appropriately trained.

Record keeping and administration

• Record all care, observations and advice accurately and promptly on SystmOne, using appropriate templates and clinical codes.
• Maintain clear records of procedures, consent and any concerns escalated to a clinician.
• Manage allocated appointments effectively and communicate delays or concerns to colleagues.
• Complete administrative tasks associated with clinical care and support patient recall and follow-up processes as required.
• Handle patient information securely and maintain confidentiality at all times.

Teamwork and professional responsibilities

• Work closely with GPs, nurses and the wider practice team to coordinate patient care.
• Prioritise allocated work and communicate promptly when additional support is needed.
• Attend relevant team meetings and contribute to service improvements.
• Maintain professional boundaries and treat patients and colleagues with courtesy and respect.
• Work within the limits of the role, seeking advice whenever a task or clinical finding falls outside personal competence.
• Participate in induction, supervision, appraisal and competency assessments.
• Complete mandatory training and maintain the skills required for the role.

Safety, safeguarding and governance

• Follow practice policies on infection prevention, hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, sharps and clinical waste.
• Recognise and report safeguarding concerns involving children or adults through the appropriate practice procedures.
• Report incidents, near misses, complaints and safety concerns promptly and contribute to learning and improvement.
• Follow health and safety procedures and help maintain a safe environment for patients, visitors and staff.
• Promote equality, respect diversity and support fair access to services.

Other duties

Undertake other reasonable duties appropriate to the role, following discussion and any necessary training. The job description may be reviewed as practice services develop. Clinical duties will always remain subject to appropriate delegation, training and assessed competence.

About us

Grosvenor House Surgery is a friendly, established GP practice in West Ealing, providing care to approximately 5,500 patients. We are part of South Central Ealing Primary Care Network and use SystmOne.

Our team includes GPs, nurses and a range of other healthcare professionals, supported by our reception and administration colleagues. We value the contribution of every team member and work together to provide high-quality, personalised patient care.

We take pride in creating a welcoming environment for patients and colleagues, with an emphasis on clear communication, mutual respect and supporting one another during busy working days.

Joining our team offers the opportunity to build lasting relationships with patients, contribute ideas and play an active part in improving our services. We encourage learning and professional development, helping staff build confidence and develop skills within their role.