If someone receives direct payments and therefore requires care, their carer will likely have to carry out some healthcare tasks. This term can be quite broad and starts from something as small as administering medication. However, it is important that the carer has the relevant training and qualifications for the service users’ needs.
Some insurers choose to charge extra for healthcare tasks. However, we don’t believe in this and that is why the following healthcare tasks which are the most common tasks are included for free as standard across every cover level.
If there is a task that your service user requires that isn’t on that list, we can still cover it providing you can prove you have the appropriate qualifications in the event of a claim.
Contents
- Healthcare Tasks Included
- What Medical Training do Carers Need?
- What do you Need in the Event of a Claim?
Healthcare Tasks Included:
- Administration of buccal midazolam: Midazolam is within a group of medicines called benzodiazepines used to treat seizures and a number of other conditions.
- Administration of drugs: Drugs may be administered by carers in a number of forms – this guide from the CQC is a useful explainer.
- Administration of enemas: An enema is a liquid administered via the rectal route to administer medication.
- Administration of medication by nebuliser: A nebuliser is a machine that assists in breathing in medication via a mask or mouthpiece.
- Administration of oxygen: This typically involves breathing additional oxygen from a cylinder or a machine, and is often administered by carers for people who have conditions causing lower oxygen levels in their blood.
- Colostomy care: This may involve assisting your patients with changing and replacing their colostomy bag on a regular basis, administering medication, etc.
- Administration of rectal diazepam: This medication is used to prevent cluster seizures – you should consult with your patient and their physician before administering this medication.
- Administration of compression garments: Compression garments are used for the treatment of ulcers, thrombosis, varicose veins, and more.
- Bowel and catheter care: Catheters may be required for a number of scenarios, from urinary incontinence to recovering from surgery. Guidance for catheter care is provided for unpaid carers as well as trained professionals.
- Bipap and cough assist machine
- Changing dressing: Dressings may need to be changed to keep wounds sanitary and free from infection.
- Chest/limb physiotherapy: A patient with these needs may have be under direct physiotherapy care, but you may be required to assist them with regular physio exercises.
- Epilepsy management: This may include administering anti-epileptic drugs, dietary control, and assisting with the treatment of side effects.
- Gastrostomy feeding and care: This will often include care for the tube and the skin/stoma around it to keep it infection-free and clean.
- Infusion pumps: This is a medical device used to administer medication to patients. You may need additional training or qualifications in order to carry out this healthcare task.
- Insulin injections: Insulin injections are most commonly used to treat diabetes if the body cannot make sufficient insulin independently.
- Management of asthma attacks: This can include administering an inhaler, and oxygen, and reducing common triggers for your patients.
- Monitoring vitals including blood sugars
- Naso-gastric feeding and care: This may include cleaning your patient’s mouth, cleaning where the NG tube goes, changing tape, etc.
- Oral suction/Nasopharyngeal suction: This involves the removal of secretions from the upper airways when patients are unable to do this themselves.
- Allergic reactions and auto-injector use
- Urostomy care: An urostomy is a type of surgery where the bladder is removed, so urine then comes out through a stoma (small hole) on your abdomen.
- Ventilator care: This guide provides a helpful overview of what ventilator care may entail.
What Medical Training do Carers Need?
The CQC is the independent regulator of health and social care in England and provides guidance to ensure that anyone working within this industry complies with regulations. This can include requirements that workers have to meet in terms of training, qualifications, and supervision.
Read more about the guidance from the CQC and what additional training you may need as a carer administering medical tasks.
What do you Need in the Event of a Claim?
In the event of a claim, the carer will be asked to provide proof of their qualifications and or training, we appreciate that not all healthcare tasks performed require a qualification, proof of training will be more than suitable. Failure to provide evidence may affect the success of the claim.
When employing a PA or carer it is important to check that they have the required qualifications – training they need in order to carry out their care. In particular, if you have any specific requirements that may require specialist training, you should ensure that your PA has this prior to becoming an employee.