GRADUATION OF HEALTHCARE ASSISTANTS

The Royal College of surgeons in Ireland celebrated the graduation of 65 Healthcare Assistants at the Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI Bahrain) campus on Sunday, 15th July, 2012. Honored Guests included Mr. Richard Walsh, Director of Nursing and Midwifery at King Hamad University, and Ms Amal Al - Kooheji, Tamkeen senior manager, Human Capital Development.
The Healthcare Assistant Programme provides individuals with knowledge and skills to function safely and effectively in the support of professionals delivering high quality patient care. The eight weeks Foundation course, the first step in a defined career path, was developed by RCSI Bahrain and King Hamad University Hospital and funded by Tamkeen. Prof. Charles Docherty, Head of School of Nursing and Midwifery stated “RCSI Bahrain has developed induction and preparatory programmes for non-professional staff such as healthcare assistants, and ward clerks, who are vital to all healthcare facilities. This has been in response to a need to provide individuals with the right attitudes, values, skills and knowledge in volume to facilitate the efficient opening of new healthcare facilities like KHUH”. Such programmes are in high demand in the Gulf region where this year in excess of 30 new healthcare facilities will be opening.

As well as this course being the first step on a career path, it has provided guaranteed job opportunities for the program’s graduates. The first and the second group of the HCA graduates have already joined KHUH and the third group is joining soon. Graduate Eman Ali said “We are so grateful for being given the chance to study and we are proud to be a part of KHUH family”.