Annual Infection Control Statement 2024
Purpose
This annual statement will be generated each year in 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 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 Lakeside Surgery is Lauren Kemp, Practice Nurse.
The IPC lead is supported by Deborah Jones, Practice 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 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 at 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 no significant events raised that related to infection control. There have also been no complaints made regarding cleanliness or infection control.
b. Infection prevention Audit and actions
On 10 June 2022 our annual infection control Audit was carried out by the IPC Specialist Nurse for Warrington, St Helens and Halton.
We are currently awaiting the outcome of her report. Any actions will be noted on this statement and carried out at the earliest opportunity.
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 that can identify best practice can be established and then followed.
In the last year, the following risk assessments were carried out/reviewed:
A detailed risk assessment was carried out for both surgeries for the staff delivery of services during the covid 19 pandemic. A further risk assessment was completed at Grappenhall Surgery in October 2021 prior to the setting up and delivery of the covid booster programme.
In the next year, the following risk assessment will also be reviewed:
- General IPC risks
- Staffing, new joiners and ongoing training
- COSHH
- Cleaning standards
- Privacy curtain cleaning or changes
- Staff vaccinations
d. Training
In addition to staff being involved in risk assessments and significant events, at Lakeside Surgery all staff and contractors receive IPC induction training on commencing their post. Thereafter, all staff receive refresher training annually via Blue Stream Academy.
e. Policies and procedures
The infection prevention and control related policies and procedures that have been written, updated or reviewed in the last year include, but are not limited, to:
- Hand Hygiene Policy
- PPE at Work Policy
- Patient Immunisation Policy
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 Lakeside Surgery to be familiar with this statement and their roles and responsibilities under it.
g. Review
The IPC lead and Deborah Jones Practice Manager are responsible for reviewing and producing the annual statement.
This annual statement will be updated on or before 1st June 2025