Annual Infection Control Statement

Date: 2023

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 Victoria Figueira, GP

Significant Events

Significant events relating to infection control are brought to quarterly IPC meetings.  Staff have been reminded of the importance of using the isolation rooms and PPE when caring for a patient with symptoms of infectious conditions such as influenza and covid following a significant event whereby a patient who had tested positive was seen at 3 sites. 

Audits and Risk Assessments

Regular audits are carried out across all sites, focusing on environmental cleanliness, waste disposal, decontamination of equipment and hand hygiene. Results are discussed at regular Infection control and prevention meetings, ensuring compliance to standards. As a result of these audits, fabric chairs in the waiting room at Manor Site have been replaced and there is now an agreed rolling programme to replace fabric chairs or torn / damaged plastic chairs across all four sites.  In addition, a clinical room has been refurbished as Shoreham Health Centre following requests to the landlord with regard to compliance to IPC standards.  Furthermore, AHP is moving away from using fabric tourniquet and are switching to reusable silicon tourniquets which are easy to clean.

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.  This year AHP has added Healthcare Waste Management module to staff induction as a result of the Audits required by our waste contractor, Anenta. 

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/urgent public health messages are also held on this site. Over the last year, several policies have been reviewed and updated including the IPC policy and related Standard Operating procedures.