Infection Control Annual Statement

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This annual statement will be generated each year. It will summarise:

• Any infection transmission incidents and any action taken (these will have been
• recorded in accordance with our Significant Event procedure)
• Details of any infection control audits undertaken and actions taken.
• Details of any infection control risk assessments undertaken.
• Details of staff training.
• Any review and update of policies, procedures and guidelines

Infection Control Annual statement 2021-22

Purpose

This annual statement will be generated each year. It will summarise: 

• Any infection transmission incidents and any action taken (these will have been recorded in accordance with our Significant Event procedure)
• Details of any infection control audits undertaken and actions taken.
• Details of any infection control risk assessments undertaken.
• Details of staff training.
• Any review and update of policies, procedures and guidelines

Background

Greenway Community Practice has an Infection Prevention + Control Team (IP+C), comprising

• Mrs Julie Prior – Practice Nurse and Lead for Infection Control
• Mrs Alison Garrod – Quality Lead
• Dr James Cross – GP
• Mrs Kate Barnes – Practice Manager

Regular Nurses meetings highlight the need for continuing good clinical practice in the prevention of infection at Greenway Community Practice. It is a standing item in these meetings

During the on going Covid-19 situation, Greenway Community Practice receives bi-weekly Covid-19 updates from BNSSG via OneCare. Any new information regarding Infection Control is passed onto Clinical and non-Clinical team members as required

Greenway Community Practice has produced comprehensive Covid-19 policies with detailed SOP (standard operating procedures), several of which involve Infection Control procedures. These are easily accessible for all relevant members

Significant Events

There has been 1 incidents involving IP+C issues in the last 12 months.

• Mask Wearing in Clinical areas – a patient who believed themselves to be exempt from wearing a mask, becoming upset when asked to be seen and assessed in the Outside Assessment area

  The incident was discussed at a minuted Significant Event Meeting with the whole practice team, and training and actions implemented. As a practice we have followed very clearly the Governments advice on Infection Control including the wearing of masks during the Covid pandemic sistuation

Audits

Ad hoc practice Infection Control Audits have been undertaken in the last 12 months, by Julie Prior and Alison Garrod. No infection transmission incidents were recorded. A number of areas were identified as needing improvements.

• Keeping clinical work surfaces as clear as possible
• Ensuring sharps bins in rooms are in the closed position when no clinician in the room.
• Evidence of hand towels in orange bin bags – these should be in clear bags

Annual audits take place where activity and procedure are looked at for

• Hand Hygiene
• Personal Protective Equipment usage
• Clinical Room suitability and cleanliness
• Sharps Handling
• Specimen Handling
• Medical Devices
• Waste Handling and Disposal

Risk Assessments

Risk assessments are carried out so that best practice can be established and then followed. In the past year a number of risk assessments have been carried out. These include

• Urine Testing
• Modesty curtains in clinicians rooms
• Toys in clinicians rooms
• Venepuncture for the patient
• Venepuncture for the phlebotomist
• Giving immunisations/injections

Staff Training

• There is a rolling 2 yearly Infection Prevention and Control training programme all staff
• Complete, along with regular PPE update as required
• Infection Prevention and Control training is included with all new team member inductions

Policies, Procedures and Guidelines

All policies are regularly formally reviewed, however all are amended on an ongoing basis as current advice changes, or need arises.

The following policies/protocols are currently in place

• Cleaning Plan last updated October 2019 (Under review)
• Clinical Waste Protocol (incl sharps) last updated May 2021
• Infection Control Policy last updated May 2022
• Laundering of linen last updated May 2022
• Personal Protective Equipment last updated September 2021
• Contagious Illness Policy last updated May 2021
• Hand Hygiene Policy last updated February 2022
• Needlestick Injuries last updated May 2022
• Specimen Handling last updated May 2022
• Disposable Instrument Usage last updated November 2021
• Patient Isolation Policy last updated May 2022
• Health and Social care Act 2008 Code of Practice on Prevention and Control of Infectio