The IPPR, a think tank with close links to Downing Street, has called for tougher background checks on support workers in hospitals and care homes to protect patients from abuse.

Forum Response: Unison

Karen Jennings, national secretary for health at UNISON, told ePolitix.com: "Health care assistants are the day to day face of nursing and health care and they clearly they have a vital role to play in the future of our health service.

"The Department of Health has been slow in taking forward the registration of this group of skilled staff. It is now routine for non-registered nurses to take blood, do ECG's, put patient's feeds up and betrained in resuscitation, and yet recognition of the increased levels of skills has been slow.

"The report gives fresh impetus to the debate and recognises this reality - it is important to build on this reality. Registration would help give health care assistants the recognition they deserve, as well as providing the public with the protection they need.

"The lack of official action means that non-registered nurses of all grades continue to be relegated to the status of 'invisible' workers. Unison wants to see a stop to this squandering of key workers and this must mean a review of pay to reflect higher levels of skills and responsibilities."

Forum Response: Royal College of Nursing

A spokeswoman for the RCN told ePolitix.com: "We know that nurses really value the help and assistance from support staff. However, it is important that effective measures are put in place to ensure that support staff deliver good patient care.

"We are currently in consultation with the membership on what these effective measure should be so that we will be able to advice the government on the issue of legislation and management of NHS support staff."