Purpose

This annual Infection Prevention Control (IPC) statement will be generated each year in the month of June 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 or transmission incidents and any action taken (these will have been reported in accordance with our ‘Learning Event’ procedures via TeamNet)
• 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 Price’s Mill Surgery is Lead Nurse Liesl Smith who started in the role November 2022.

The IPC Lead is supported by Dr Andrew Sampson

Infection transmission incidents (Significant Events)

Significant events involve both examples of ‘good’ and ‘poor’ practice.

All significant events are discussed at one of our regular clinical practice meetings attended by GPs and Practice Nurses and at our practice learning events that are held four times yearly. For each that may occur, a specific form is completed, reflected upon and discussed at one of these regular meetings, so that areas of learning and improvement can be identified.

In the past year there have been ‘zero’ learning events raised that have related to infection control. There have also been ‘zero’ complaints regarding cleanliness.

Infection prevention audit and actions

The Annual Infection Prevention Audit was completed 20th June 2023 and resulted in the following actions:

• Review of bins (non clinical) used across the practice
• All staff have undergone annual infection prevention training including a hand-washing assessment and spills kit training (this explains correct procedure for dealing and cleaning surfaces/equipment as a result of there being any vomit/faeces/blood spills within the surgery
• Updated ‘needle stick and sharps injury’ protocol
• Review of how the communal blood pressure machine is cleaned after each patient use

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:

• After patient collapsed in reception – screens were purchased to maintain dignity and privacy
• Covid-19 – measures taken to protect staff and patients during flu and covid clinic held Oct 2022 in the surgery
• Doctor that performs minor surgery has risk assessed practice and advised needs to purchase new hyfrecator
• Needle stick injury occurred during covid clinic – learning event has been completed
• Service Level Agreement with cleaning company reviewed (Minsters) and cleaning company asked to provide certificates of training for their employers to promote IPC within Price’s Mill Surgery

In the next year (2023-2024) the following risk assessment will also be reviewed:

• General IPC updates
• Introduction of single use equipment and phasing out of autoclave equipment
• Protocol for the daily cleaning of all clinical equipment, surfaces and door handles in all clinical rooms

Training

Price’s Mill staff on appointment receive IPC induction training and all the staff receive refresher training annually, the level of which, is dependent on the staff members role and responsibilities.

• All Staff receive annual training on IPC
• All clinical and non-clinical staff have completed IPC e-learning modules
• The IPC lead attends primary care infection control forum and cascades information throughout the team

Policies and procedures

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

• Infection Prevention Control Policy
• Needle Stick/ Sharps injuries Policy
• Clinical waste Management Policy

Additionally, all policies are amended on an ongoing basis as per current advice, guidance, and legislation changes.

Responsibility

As a team at Price’s Mill Surgery, Infection Prevention Control is regarded as highly important and we as a practice maintain high standards for infection prevention control. It is the responsibility of all staff members at Price’s Mill Surgery to be familiar with this statement and their roles and responsibilities under it.

Review

The IPC lead is responsible for reviewing and producing the annual statement

This annual statement will be updated on or before June 2024.

Liesl Smith
Lead Practice Nurse
June 2023