Infection Control Annual Statement
Southwell Medical Centre
Annual Infection Control Statement 2024
This annual statement with be generated each year in April 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 Southwell Medical Centre has two leads for Infections Prevention and Control:
Dr Christopher Clarke (GP) and Hannah Welbourn (Practice Nurse Manager)
The IPC leads are supported by: Danielle Croucher (Practice Manager)
Hannah Welbourn keeps up to date on infection prevention and control training and carries out yearly audits of the practice.
Infection Transmission incidents (Significant Events)
Significant Events (which may also include examples of good practice as well as challenging events) are documented and investigated in detail to see what can be learnt and to indicate changes that might lead to future improvements. All significant events are reviewed and discussed in the weekly staff meetings and learning is cascaded throughout the teams via line managers to all relevant staff.
In the past year there have been no significant event raised relating to Infection Control and Prevention.
Infection Prevention Audit and Actions
The annual Infection Prevention and Control audit was completed by Hannah Welbourn in April 2024
As a result of the audit the following things have been changed:
- All doctors’ rooms have now had carpet removed and replaced with wipeable flooring to the correct safety standards
- The domestic cleaners’ cupboards require updating. A request for this has been put in and the practice is awaiting the outcome to this.
- Al chairs in reception waiting room and clinical rooms are now wipeable.
An audit on hand washing was completed in January 2023
Southwell Medical Centre plan to complete the following audits annually:
- Annual Infection Prevention and Control Audit
- Curtain replacement log
- Cleaning audit
- Hand hygiene audit
- Monthly waste audit
- Monthly sharps bins audit
- Weekly cleaning spot checks
Risk Assessments
Risk assessments are carried out in practice annually.
Risk assessments last carried out/reviewed:
- Legionella (water) Risk assessment: The practice has carried out its water safety risk assessment to ensure the water supply does not pose a risk to patients, visitors, or staff.
Assessment carried out by: Brendon Hunt Last reviewed:
- Immunisations: As a practice we keep a record of up-to-date staff immunisations. We ensure staff are up to date with their Heb B vaccines and all seasonal vaccines such as MMR, Covid-19, and Influenza. As a practice we take part in national campaigns for patients and offer vaccinations at the practice, and at a patient home if housebound.
- Curtains: The NHS cleaning Specifications state the curtains should be cleaned or if using disposable curtains, replaced every 6 months. At Southwell Medical practice we use disposable curtains in all clinical rooms and ensure these are changed every 6 months. A record is kept of this.
The window blinds are considered low risk and therefore do not require a particular cleaning regime other than regular dusting and vacuuming during daily cleaning schedules.
The modesty curtains are always handled by clinicians and are never handled by patients. Staff are always encouraged to remove gloves and clean hands following a procedure and before touching the curtains. All curtains are regularly reviewed and changed if they are visibly soiled.
- Hand washing sinks: The practice has clinical hand washing sinks in every room for staff use. These all have hand washing soaps and gel available for use.
In minor surgery rooms they all have scrub available and elbow taps
- Training: all staff receive annual training for infection control and prevention which is complete on Practice Index. All staff complete annual hand hygiene training carried out by the IPC lead.
Policies
All infection prevention and control related policies are in date for this year. Policies relating to IPC are available to all staff on Clarity TeamNet and are reviewed annually and are amended on an on-going basis as current advice and guidelines change.
Any updates regarding IPC are discussed during staff meetings.
Responsibility
It is the responsibility of all staff to be familiar with these statements and their roles and responsibilities under this.
The Infection Prevention and Control Lead Hannah Welbourn is responsible for reviewing and producing the Annual Statement for and on behalf of Southwell Medical Centre
Date published: 28/05/2024
Written by: Hannah Welbourn (Practice Nurse Manager)