12th April 2024

Purpose 

This annual statement will 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. The report will be published on the practice website and will include the following summary:

• 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 the 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 lead for infection prevention and control at The Park Surgery is Lynda Huggins, Head Practice Nurse

The IPC Lead is supported by Dr Timothy Evans and non – clinical support by Claire Deegan.

a. Infection transmission incidents (significant events)

Significant events involve examples of good practice as well as challenging events.

Positive events are discussed at meetings to allow all staff to be appraised of areas of best practice.

Negative events are managed by the staff member who either identified or was advised of any potential shortcoming. This person will complete a Significant Event Analysis (SEA) form that commences an investigation process to establish what can be learnt and to indicate changes that might lead to future improvements.

All significant events are reviewed and discussed in several meetings each month. Any learning points are cascaded to all relevant staff where an action plan, including audits or policy review, may follow.

In the past year there have been 0 significant events raised that related to infection control. There have also been 0 complaints made regarding cleanliness or infection control.

b. Infection prevention audit and actions

Infection Prevention Society Audit Tool was completed in December 2023/January 2024 and resulted in the following actions;

• Remove books form waiting room – completed
• Assess and amend protocol for curtain changes – completed and integrated in to IPC Handbook
• Assess glove supply – reviewed and completed and implemented nitrile gloves across the organisation clinical staff
• Meeting with Cleaners Contractors and reviewed current methods of auditing cleanliness of rooms via QR codes
• Measles outbreak risk assessment
• All staff up to date with IPC training
• Wash hands poster now in situ in men’s toilets
• V8.0 of IPC Policy reviewed and now replaced with new IPC Handbook
• Consider changing sharps boxes to 3 monthly intervals as per attached to comply with sustainability goals https://www.infectionpreventioncontrol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Bulletin-GP-No-50-December-2023-Policies-1.pdf. Anenta emailed 16/2/2024 to enquire awaiting response.
• Review reception and clinical staff specimen policy – completed and in IPC Handbook.
• Cold change policy due for review in terms of contingency with mechanical failure

The IPS Audit tool is due to be reviewed January 2025

c. Risk Assessments

Risk assessments are carried out so that any risk is minimised to be as low as reasonably practicable. Additionally, a risk assessment which can identify best practice can be established and then followed.

In the last year the following risk assessments were carried out/reviewed:

• Measles

In the next year, the following risk assessment will also be reviewed:

• Legionella
• Clinical Waste Streams including sharps

Privacy Curtains (due to recent change in policy)

d. Training

In addition to staff being involved in risk assessments and significant events, at The Park Surgery all staff and contractors receive IPC induction training on commencing their post. Thereafter, all staff receive refresher training annually the level of training is dependent on the staff members role and responsibilities.

Various elements of IPC training in the previous year have been delivered via online training supported by iLearn via TeamNet, the ICB update training provided via Teams on Covid – 19, Local Measles outbreak and regular Encircle events

e. Policies and procedures

The infection prevention and control related policies and procedures which have been written, updated or reviewed in the last year include, but are not limited, to:

Infection Prevention Control Handbook

Risk assessment of staff in relation to MMR vaccinations

Policies relating to infection prevention and control are available to all staff and are reviewed and updated annually. Additionally, all policies are amended on an ongoing basis as per current advice, guidance and legislation changes.

Responsibility

It is the responsibility of all staff members at The Park Surgery to be familiar with this statement and their roles and responsibilities under it.

Review

The IPC Lead and the Registered Manager are responsible for reviewing and producing the annual statement.

This annual statement will be updated on or before 12^th April 2025

Signed by

Lynda Huggins, Head Nurse

For and on behalf of The Park Surgery