Health care assistants at Ramsey Cottage Hospital can now sign up to a code of conduct, as health care professionals can.

It's been developed by revising existing professional codes and its principles include maintaining high standards of care, not abusing the trust placed in them as health workers and promoting respect for the patients, their families and carers.

The Department of Health and Social Security says it also protects workers by clarifying their rights and responsibilities while at work.

Hospital Manager Jane Grib says the assistants themselves have had a large input into the code's development and feel very positive about its benefits to both themselves and the facility.