Healthcare assistants in EU Member States: an overview

Abstract

HIGHLIGHTS• The importance of healthcare assistants in healthcare systems is expected to grow. • Most learning outcomes for HCAs across Europe are knowledge and skills-related. • There appears to be a common, core set of learning outcomes for HCAs across Europe • Country differences can be explained by varying regulatory and educational frameworks.ABSTRACT With many European countries facing health workforce shortages, especially in nursing, and an increasing demand for healthcare, the importance of healthcare assistants (HCAs) in modern healthcare systems is expected to grow. Yet HCAs' knowledge, skills, competences and education are largely unexplored. The study 'Support for the definition of core competences for healthcare assistants ' (CC4HCA, 2015-2016 aimed to further the knowledge on HCAs across Europe. This paper presents an overview of the position of healthcare assistants in 27 EU Member States (MSs) and reflects on the emerging country differences.