Healthcare Assistant

Primary Care Careers; Bedford; On-site; GBP 12,000 - 21,000; Part time

Job summary

Houghton Close Surgery in Bedfordshire is seeking a healthcare assistant to join the practice in a vital patient-facing role with clinical and administrative responsibilities. The post is part-time, 12 hours per week, ideally on Tuesdays and Fridays, with flexibility to cover sickness, annual leave and mandatory training as needed.

You will work within a multidisciplinary team to build experience and competence, supporting nurses and clinicians across wound care, checks, ECGs and vaccination

Qualifications

• GP practice experience in a GP setting.
• Strong clinical skills including ECGs, BP and wound care.
• Excellent patient-facing communication and interpersonal skills.
• Confidential, compassionate and respectful approach to patients.
• Ability to work independently and within a multi-disciplinary team.
• Strong organisational and time management skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide wound care assessment and treatment under supervision.
• Perform venepuncture.
• Conduct health checks on patients identified by the practice.
• Perform ECGs, BP readings and urine testing.
• Deliver ear care to patients per guidelines.
• Promote health topics (smoking, diet, exercise, sexual health).
• Participate in annual influenza vaccination programme for adults under PSDs.
• Assist clinicians in minor surgery/procedures.
• Prioritise workload and respond to emergencies.
• Apply infection control measures per guidelines.
• Manage stock levels and rotate supplies.
• Document data on computer system using READ codes.
• Document telephone and surgery consultations.
• Order medical supplies and maintain stock control.

Skills

GP practice experience

ECG readings

Blood pressure

Wound care

Patient communication

Tools

READ codes

Job description

Job summary

Houghton Close Surgery is looking for a healthcare assistant (HCA) to join the practice in this vital patient-facing role with both clinical and administrative responsibilities. The role is offered on a part-time basis, for 12 hours per week ideally on Tuesday and Fridays. Flexibility is required to cover sickness, annual leave and mandatory training as needed.

The role will offer you the opportunity to build on your experience, skills and competence, requiring you to work effectively within a multidisciplinary healthcare team.

Main duties of the job

• Provide wound care assessment and treatment within sphere of competence and with supervision of practice nurses where necessary.
• Perform venepuncture.
• Perform health checks to patients identified by the practice.
• Perform ECGs, BP readings and urine testing.
• Deliver ear care to patients within current guidelines.
• Deliver opportunistic health promotion including smoking, diet, exercise and sexual health.
• Participate in annual influenza vaccination programme, administering the vaccine to adults under patient specific direction (PSDs) as directed by the lead GP.
• Assist clinicians in minor surgery/procedures including coil fits.
• Prioritise workload and intervene appropriately to treat emergency situations.
• Apply infection control measures in accordance with local and national guidelines.
• Ensure stock levels of medical supplies and drugs are rotated and maintained to agreed levels.
• Document data on computer system using READ codes to ensure accurate retrieval of information for monitoring and audit purposes.
• Document all telephone and surgery consultations according to practice policy.
• Ordering of all medical supplies and maintains stock control.

About us

Houghton Close Surgery is a semi-rural, GMS dispensing practice in mid-Bedfordshire with approximately 11,700 patients. Housed in a large, modern, purpose-built surgery, we are a cohesive, hard-working and friendly team providing high-quality care to our patients and a supportive working environment for our staff. We are a forward-thinking training practice, supporting both GP registrars and Cambridge medical students.

The practice consists of six partners, two salaried GPs, registrars, a practice manager, nursing, dispensary and administrative teams. We also benefit from a full complement of PCN staff including a clinical pharmacy team, advanced nurse practitioner, GP assistant and physician associate.

Our aim is to provide excellent clinical care that is available, accessible and efficient. We recognise the importance of teamwork in achieving this goal and are committed to supporting the wellbeing, development and job satisfaction of our staff.

Essential

• To be considered for the role you must have experience of working within a GP practice.
• Strong clinical skills including recording ECGs, blood pressure and basic wound care.
• Excellent patient-facing communication and interpersonal skills.
• Confidential manner with a compassionate and respectful approach, placing a high value on the dignity of patients, relatives, carers and colleagues.
• Ability to work independently, determining own workload priorities, as well as working as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Strong organisational and time management skills.

Closing date: 31 October 2026
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.