Infection Control Annual Statement

Purpose

This annual statement will be generated each year 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 (IPC) Lead

The Birchwood Medical Centre has a lead for Infection Prevention and Control: Andrea Atkins ANP with a view to expanding the team to include other members of the nursing staff within the next month.

The IPC Lead is supported by: Pam Howe Practice Manager, Liz May deputy manager, Tracy Tocock admin, Amanda Strange admin

Andrea has attended an IPC Lead training course in December 2021 and keeps updated on infection prevention practice.

 

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 monthly clinical meetings and learning is cascaded to all relevant staff.

In the past year there have been no significant events raised that related to infection control.

 

Infection Prevention Audit and Actions

The Annual Infection Prevention and Control audit was completed by Andrea Atkins in Dec 2023.

As a result of the audit, the following things have been highlighted in Birchwood Medical Centre

1 Greater communication between practice and cleaning company.

2 Weekly auditing of treatment rooms and bimonthly auditing of clinical rooms

No infections were reported for patients who had had minor surgery at the Birchwood Medical Centre.

 

An audit on hand washing was undertaken in Dec 2023. This will be discussed at the practice clinical meeting.

The Birchwood Practice plan to undertake the following audits in the year Dec 2023 – Dec 2024

• Annual Infection Prevention and Control audit
• Minor Surgery outcomes audit
• Domestic Cleaning audit
• Hand hygiene audit

 

Risk Assessments

Risk assessments are carried out so that best practice can be established and then followed. In the last year 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.

Immunisation: As a practice we ensure that all of our staff are up to date with their Hepatitis B immunisations and offered any occupational health vaccinations applicable to their role (i.e. MMR, Seasonal Flu). We take part in the National Immunisation campaigns for patients and offer vaccinations in house and via home visits to our patient population.

Curtains are disposable and replaced if visible soiled. The modesty curtains although handled by clinicians are never handled by patients and clinicians have been reminded to always remove gloves and clean hands after an examination and before touching the curtains. The curtains are inspected in the treatment rooms on a weekly basis.

Toys: We have no toys in the practice OR NHS Cleaning Specifications recommend that all toys are cleaned regularly and we therefore provide only wipeable toys in waiting / consultation rooms.

Our rooms are audited on a regular basis and we also have a cleaning specification and frequency policy which our cleaners and staff work to. An assessment of cleanliness is conducted by the cleaning team and logged. This includes all aspects in the surgery including cleanliness of equipment.

Hand washing sinks: The practice has clinical hand washing sinks in every room for staff to use. Some of our sinks do not meet the latest standards for sinks but we have removed plugs, covered overflows and reminded staff to turn of taps that are not ‘hands free’ with paper towels to keep patients safe. We have also replaced our liquid soap with wall mounted soap dispensers to ensure cleanliness.

 

 

Training

All our staff receive annual training in infection prevention and control via e-learning and F2F training. A record is held of staff training.

Policies

 All Infection Prevention and Control related policies are in date for this year and are due to be updated in April 2024

 

Policies relating to Infection Prevention and Control are available to all staff and are reviewed and updated annually, and all are amended on an on-going basis as current advice, guidance and legislation changes. Infection Control policies are circulated amongst staff for reading and discussed at meetings on an annual basis.

 

Responsibility

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

 

Review date

Dec 2024

 

Responsibility for Review

The Infection Prevention and Control Lead and the Practice Manager/Deputy Manager are responsible for reviewing and producing the Annual Statement.

Andrea Atkins

Advanced Nurse Practitioner

For and on behalf of the Birchwood Medical Centre