Infection Prevention and Control Statement

Annual Statement for Infection Prevention and Control (Primary Care)

It is a requirement of The Health and Social Care Act 2008 Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance that the Infection Prevention and Control Lead produces an annual statement regarding compliance with good practice on infection prevention and control and makes it available for anyone who wishes to see it, including patients and regulatory authorities.

As best practice, the Annual Statement should be published on the Practice website. The Annual Statement should provide a short review of any:

  • Known infection transmission event and actions arising from
  • Audits undertaken and subsequent
  • Risk assessments undertaken for prevention and control of
  • Training received by staff; and
  • Review and update of policies, procedures, and Infection Control Annual Statement

Purpose

This annual statement will be generated each year in July in accordance with the requirements of The Health and Social Care Act 2008 Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance. It summarises:

  • Any infection transmission incidents and any action taken (these will have been reported in accordance with our Significant Event procedure)
  • Details of any infection control audits undertaken, and actions undertaken
  • Details of any risk assessments undertaken for prevention and control of infection
  • Details of staff training
  • Any review and update of policies, procedures, and guidelines

Infection Prevention and Control (ICP) Lead

Buxton Medical Practice Infection Prevention and Control Lead is Helen Wren and the Deputy Infection Prevention Lead is Serena Linnell-Bennett and they are supported by staff who each have their own designated area within IPC.

The IPC Lead and Deputy IPC Lead has completed IPC training to ensure high standards are maintained across the premises.

Infection transmission incidents (Significant Events)

Significant events (which may involve examples of good practice as well as challenging events) are investigated in detail to see what can be learnt and to indicate changes that might lead to future improvements. All significant events are reviewed in the distributed to monthly Clinical Meeting if needed and discussed annually and learning/future preventative measures are cascaded to all relevant staff.

In the past year there has been one significant events related to infection control. Learning from these events included:

  • Discussion procedure to increase awareness of safe practice when using sharps and safe storage for sharps bins
  • Ensure aminated posters now in all consultation/treatment rooms with guidance on safe disposal and how to manage a needle stick injury in line with practice

Infection Prevention Audit and Actions

The IPC Lead ensures that regular audits are conducted. Any issues arising from these audits have been addressed and the following actions taken.

  • Laminated posters in each clinical room providing information on how to manage needle stick
  • All sharps’ bins to be signed, dated, and disposed of Temporary closure of bins to be used to prevent sharps injuries
  • Regular audits with cleaning contractors to highlight any issues and maintain
  • Regular stock check in each clinical room including rotation of stock to prevent items
  • Curtains changed every six months in all clinical

Twice a day temperature checks on all fridges and full monthly download of temperature data to the shared drive.

Handwashing teaching is carried out annually for all staff members. Particular attention is drawn to technique which was observed in all team members and bare below the elbow’s guidelines.

Handwashing audits are carried out by the IPC lead for all clinical staff. The last training session for staff was 28th February 2024.

Buxton Medical Practice plan to undertake the following audits in 2024/2025

  • Annual Infection Prevention and Control audit
  • Regular Infection Control room audits
  • Clinical waste audit
  • Hand hygiene audit
  • Updating the staff vaccination matrix
  • Smear

Risk Assessments

Risk assessments are carried out so that best practice can be established and then followed. The following risk assessments were carried out/reviewed:

  • Legionella (water) Risk Assessment: The practice has conducted/reviewed its water safety risk assessment to ensure that the water supply does not pose a risk to patients, visitors, or staff. Taps are run for two minutes every week and an inspection from an external agency is conducted
  • Immunization: As a practice we aim to ensure that all appropriate clinical and non-clinical staff depending on their roles are up to date with their Hepatitis B immunisations and offered any occupational health vaccinations applicable to their role (i.e. MMR, Seasonal Flu, Covid Vaccine). We take part in the National Immunisation campaigns for     patients and offer vaccinations in-house and via home visits to our patient
  • Curtains: The NHS Cleaning Specifications state the curtains should be cleaned or if using disposable curtains, replaced every six In our practice we use disposable curtains and ensure they are changed every six months. The modesty curtains are handled by only by clinicians who should always remove gloves and clean hands after an examination and before touching the curtain. All curtains are reviewed and disposed of if visibly soiled
  • Window Blinds: The window blinds are very low risk and therefore do not require a specific cleaning regime. The blinds are set to be wiped and vacuumed on a regular basis to prevent dust build
  • Cleaning specifications, frequencies, and cleanliness: We display posters outlining our commitment to cleanliness in the patient waiting Cleaning schedules are displayed in all clinical rooms and in the regularly used areas. These schedules are completed each day by clinicians and the healthcare cleaners (HCCs) once cleaning duties are completed
  • Hand washing sinks: Hand washing sinks are in all clinical rooms and As not all the sinks meet the latest standards, certain precautions have been made such as the removal of plugs and we are awaiting work to be carried out locally to block the overflows and if necessary new sinks/taps and remind staff to check they have enough liquid soap. All liquid soap dispensers are wall mounted
  • Chairs: All chairs are in clinical areas are Clinell wipes are used for cleaning

Training

All staff receive infection prevention and control training via eLearning. Clinical staff undertake this training at tier 2 and non-clinical complete tier 1. This is repeated every three years.

Face to face updates in infection prevention and control are delivered annually. We distribute any IPC updates via email and clinical monthly meetings. These updates raise awareness and alert to latest guidance.

Policies

All Infection Prevention and Control related policies are in date for this year.

Policies relating to Infection Prevention and Control are available to all staff and are reviewed and updated by Infection Control Leads and are on the shared drive.

Responsibility

It is the responsibility of everyone to be familiar with this Statement and their roles and responsibilities under this.

Review Date

  • July 2025

Responsibility for Review

The Infection Prevention and Control Lead and practice management are responsible for reviewing and producing the Annual Statement.

  • Serena Linnell-Bennett – Practice Manager
  • Helen Wren – Nurse Prescriber
  •  24/07/24