key roles in healthcare

• healthcare roles are positions in organisations such as hospitals and surgeries.
• what are the six key roles in healthcare?

  1.doctors

  2. specialist doctors

  3. nurses

  4. midwives

  5. healthcare assistants

  6. occupational therapists
• doctors (GPs):

  provide medical care for patients. they work mainly in surgeries and local communities. they:

  • diagnose, treat, monitor and prevent illness
  • provide prescriptions for treatments and arrange preventative care, such as flu immunisation.
  • refer patients to other health professionals, such as specialist doctors and therapists.
• specialists doctors:

  have expert training in particular areas. they work mainly in hospitals and clinics, they:

  • diagnose, treat, monitor and prevent illness in specialist areas, such as cardiology for heart, oncology for cancer, paediatrics for children and geriatrics for elderly
  • liaise with other professionals, such as nurses, to carry out treatment in hospital.
  • contribute to teams for ongoing patient care.
• nurses:

  are trained to carry out medical duties at their level of seniority and specialism, mainly in hospitals, surgeries, clinics and homes.

  specialisms include hospital critical care nursing, cardiac nursing, surgical care and oncology nursing. nurses:

  • monitor and care for daily chronic and acute medical needs
  • support doctors in giving treatment and prescribed drugs
  • work to restore health and wellbeing.
• midwives:

  work mainly in hospital maternity units, clinics and homes. they:

  • monitor the prenatal development and health of mothers and babies.
  • help deliver babies.
  • provide postnatal care, supporting mothers, babies and families after the birth.
• healthcare assistants:

  are trained to help with daily personal care and to support wellbeing. they work in hospitals, clinics, residential care and homes. they:

  • work under the guidance of qualified professionals, such as nurses or doctors.
  • meet care needs, such as washing, toileting, making beds, feeding and mobility.
  • monitor health by taking temperature, pulse, respiration rate and weight.
• occupational therapists:

  facilitate recovery and overcome practical barriers. they work mainly in hospitals, clinics, residential care and homes. they:

  • identify issues people may have in everyday life, such as with dressing, shopping or working.
  • help people to work out practical solutions.