Annual Infection Control Statement

Date: 2022

Purpose

This annual statement will be generated each year 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 will include:

• Any infection transmission incidents and any action taken (these will be reported within our significant events)
• Details of any infection control audits undertaken and actions
• Details of any infection control risk assessments undertaken
• Details of any staff training
• Any review and update of policies, procedures and guidelines

This is relevant to all employees, visitors and any one on training placements – the Infection Prevention and Control Policy must be adhered to.

Commitment of the Practice

At Adur Health Partnership, we are committed to providing the highest standard of infection prevention and control, minimising the risk of infection and ensuring safety of patients and staff alike.

If you have any concerns about cleanliness or infection control please report these to our reception staff.

Infection Control and Prevention Leads

Lead Clinicians across Adur Health Partnership

• Paula Tanner, ANP
• Dr Charlotte Hoey

Significant Events

Significant events relating to infection control are brought to quarterly IPC meetings. The ring pessary SOP is being updated after a ring pessary was not recalled and was left in situ for longer than advised. There have been issues around specimen management at one of our sites and the process has been clarified with staff.

Audits and Risk Assessments

Monthly audits are carried out across all sites, focusing on environmental cleanliness, waste disposal and hand hygiene. Results are discussed at regular Infection control and prevention meetings, ensuring compliance to standards. As a result of these audits, carpet has been removed from all consultation rooms over the last year and work has taken place at Downsway site to improve room layout, supporting good infection control. Risk assessments have been updated across the practice including the management of assistance dogs and risk of legionella. There has continued to be a focus on COVID 19 with risk assessments and PPE policy being reviewed.

Staff Training

All clinical and non-clinical staff undertake infection control training and this is clearly outlined in the induction policy for new staff. Our current education provider is Practice Index.

Policies and Procedures

Adur Health Partnership infection control and prevention policies can be reviewed by staff on the “teamnet” IPC Topic Page. Minutes from IPC meetings and information about current IPC topics/outbreaks are also held on this site. Over the last year, several policies have been updated including the safe water policy, venepuncture SOP, specimen collection SOP and aseptic technique SOP.