Infection Control Statement

1st August 2023

Purpose

This annual statement will be generated each year in August 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 carried out, 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 leads for infection prevention and control at Holmwood Corner Surgery are:

• Dr Annette Pautz – Senior Partner and Clinical Lead
• Jane Wheller – Practice Nurse and Nurse Lead

The IPC lead is supported by Nacima Abdi, Business Manager.

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 in 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 which 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 at weekly clinical meetings and 4-6 monthly clinical half days. 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 no significant events raised which related to infection control. There have also been no complaints made regarding cleanliness or infection control.

b. Infection prevention audit and actions

Minor Surgery/ Operations

• Infection rates post join injections carried out at the surgery are audited on an annual basis.
• In the year 2023/2024 there have been 0 post operation or join injection infections.

Clinical Audits

Broad Spectrum Anti-Biotics audits conducted by?

Annual Infection Control Audit

• Undertaken in July 2023
• Next Audit July 2024

c. Risk assessments

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

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

Infection control risk Assessment

Infection Audit Tool was completed in July 2023 and resulted in the following actions:

• Investigate provision of clinical flooring in consulting rooms
• We have removed all open shelves in clinical rooms and we have identified that the flooring in the building will need to be replaced, and we are actively working on getting this done as a priority
• Slopped cupboards will be installed in the Minor Surgery room.
• We have replaced all portable hand wash soaps with a dispenser
• Alcohol disinfections provided in strategic areas for patients
• Waste bins replaced in the kitchen to a foot operated bin.
• Open waste baskets have been reduced in the administrative floor
• A reduction of posters on the walls and ensured all posters have been laminated
• Reviewed and updated Cleaning Schedule with the cleaning company.
• All staff have undergone annual Infection Prevention Control training
• Our room audit identified that we do not have compliant splash backs and this will be looked in our next refurbishment.
• We will replace our taps and sinks with compliant ones at the next refurbishment.
• In process of replacing vertical blinds with wipeable roller blinds.

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

• Plans to ensure a whole building refresh, which include updated and complaint flooring
• Ensure the Minor Surgery room has sloped cupboards.

d. Training

In addition to staff being involved in risk assessments and significant events, at Holmwood Corner Surgery, all staff and contractors will receive IPC induction training on commencing their post. Thereafter, all staff receive refresher training annually via bluestream

e. Policies and procedures

The infection prevention and control-related policies and procedures that have been updated on 23 October 2023.

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.

f. Responsibility

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

g. Review

The IPC leads- Dr Annette Pautz, Jane Wheller and Nacima Abdi, Business Manager are responsible for reviewing and producing the annual statement.

This annual statement will be updated on or before October 2024

Signed by 
Dr Annette Pautz
For and on behalf of Holmwood Corner Surgery