Infection Prevention & Control

Farrow Medical Centre

Infection Control Annual Statement

Purpose

This annual statement will be generated each December 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 summarises:

Any infection transmission incidents and any action taken (these will have been reported in accordance with out Significant Event procedure)

Details of any infection control audits undertaken and actions undertaken

Details of any risk assessments undertaken for prevention and control of infection

Details of staff training

Any review and update of policies, procedures and guidelines

Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Lead

Farrow Medical Centre has a Lead Partner for IPC : Jo Briscoe (JoB) Nurse Partner.

The IPC Lead is supported by: Lead IPC Practice Nurse & Katie Dedics (KD) Practice Nurse

JoB & KD have completed online IPC training in 2022/23 .

Infection transmission incidents (Significant Events)

Significant events (which may involve examples of good practice as well as challenging events) are investigated in detail to see what can be learnt and to indicate changes that might lead to future improvements. All significant events are reviewed in monthly multidisciplinary Protected Learning Time events and learning is cascade to all relevant staff. There have been no significant events relating to infection control in this period.

Infection Prevention Audit and Action

An annual infection control audit was completed by Samantha Moorehouse, IPC Nurse/Manager, BDCT Infection Control team, in November 2022.

The report noted ‘there were good infection prevention practices in place and only minor issues identified ‘.

As a result of the audit: damaged furniture in the waiting room has been removed; additional lidded bins have been provided in toilet areas; we are aware that there are some areas of damaged plaster work and we are looking in to quotes for repair and redecoration.

Weekly clinical room cleaning, weekly environmental cleanliness and monthly decontamination audits are completed with action plans where necessary.

The practice plans to continue annual Infection Prevention and Control audits by BDCT.

Coronavirus

Through 2020/22 this has had a huge impact on day to day working. Risk assessments & guidelines have been completed regarding cleaning of rooms, travel through the building, working from home and more. All have been developed in line with national guidelines. This is a continually changing environment and as restrictions are lifted we will review the impact this has on our infection control measures going forwards.

As of April 2023 , current national guidance is about protecting those most at risk.

New guidance sets out how to live safely with COVID-19 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

“As we learn to live with COVID, we encourage people to keep following simple steps to help keep themselves and others safe.

The pandemic is not over and how the virus will develop over time remains uncertain. COVID still poses a real risk to many of us, particularly with high case rates and hospitalisations. That is why it is sensible to wear a mask in crowded, enclosed spaces, keep indoor spaces ventilated and stay away from others if you have any symptoms of a respiratory illness.

Vaccination remains the best way to protect us all from severe disease and hospitalisation. If you have not yet come forward for your primary or booster I would urge you to do so straight away – the NHS vaccine programme is there to help and the sooner you are vaccinated the sooner you and your family and friends will be protected.”

Dame Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of UKHSA

Risk assessments

Risk assessments should be carried out so that best practice can be established and then followed. In 2022 the following risk assessments were carried out:

Legionella (Water) Risk Assessment: The practice has conducted/reviewed its water safety risk assessment to ensure that the water supply does not pose a risk to patients, visitors or staff’

Immunisation: As a practice we work towards all our staff being up to date with recommended immunisations applicable for their role (Tetanus & Polio; Measles, Rubella, Hepatitis B; Chickenpox, Influenza & Covid-19) We take part in the National Immunisation Programme for patients and offer vaccinations in-house and via home visits.

Curtains: Disposable curtains are used in clinical rooms and are changed every six months according to national guidance. All curtains are regularly reviewed and changed more frequently if damaged or soiled.

Training

The practice subscribes to an IPC Bulletin produced by Harrogate & District NHSfT on a regular basis. This is emailed to all staff and a copy filed in IPC folder and in IPC file on ‘F’ drive

Policies

All Infection and Control related policies are in date for this year. The practice has adopted policies from Community Infection Prevention and Control, Harrogate & District NHSfT

Policies are available in Policies folder in Clean Utility Room and IPC folder on ‘F’ drive. These are amended as current advice, guidance and legislation changes.

Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of each individual to be familiar with this statement and their roles and responsibilities under this

Review date: April 2024

Responsibility for Review

The Infection Prevention and Control Lead is responsible for producing the annual statement

Jo Briscoe

Nurse Partner April 2023