Infection Control Annual Statement

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Infection Control Annual statement 2022-23

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

Although the Covid-19 pandemic has now considered to have been resolved, Greenway Community Practice produced comprehensive Covid-19 policies with detailed SOP (standard operating procedures), several of which involved Infection Control procedures. Those in use have been amended to revert back to normal good clinical Infection Control Practice operating standards as in previous years.

Significant Events

There has been 1 incident involving a needlestick injury to an HCA in the last 12 months.

This was correctly reported and discussed within the nursing team and at a minuted Significant Event meeting.

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.

• Removal of clinical waste bins from some GP rooms as not required, as part of our streamlining our waste stream
• Ensuring sharps bins in rooms are in the closed position when no clinician in the room.
• Replacement of worn out wipeable pillows in T/R wing

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
• Giving immunisations    
• Modesty curtains in clinicians rooms    
• Toys in clinicians rooms        
• Venepuncture for the patient
• Venepuncture for the phlebotomist
• Use of Orange clinical waste bags

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

• Clinical Waste Protocol (incl sharps) - last updated June 2023
• Infection Control Policy - last updated July 2023
• Laundering of linen - last updated May 2022
• Personal Protective Equipment - last updated November 2022
• Contagious Illness Policy - last updated February 2023
• Hand Hygiene Policy - last updated February 2023
• Needlestick Injuries - last updated February 2023
• Specimen Handling - last updated May 2022
• Disposable Instrument Usage - last updated November 2021
• Patient Isolation Policy - last updated February 2023
• Health and Social care Act 2008 Code of Practice on Prevention and Control of Infection