Purpose

The annual statement will be generated each annually.

It will summarise:

• Any learning connected to cases of C. difficile infection and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus blood stream infections and action undertaken.
• The annual infection control audit summary and actions undertaken.
• Infection Control risk assessments and actions undertaken.
• Details of staff training (both as part of induction and annual training) with regards to infection prevention & control.
• Details of infection control advice to patients.
• Any review and update of policies, procedures, and guidelines.

Infection Prevention and Control Leadership

The Practice Infection Prevention and Control lead is Vanessa Denny (Practice Nurse) and supported by Caroline Dyer (Practice manager)

Where appropriate, learning and updates are shared with the wider Practice team through meetings, communications and training.

Significant events

Significant events are reviewed monthly as they occur and at the surgery annual review. Any learning is identified and fed back to the surgery for actioning.

Infection Prevention and Control Audits

The Practice undertakes regular IPC audits to monitor compliance, identify risks and support continuous improvement.

IPC audits are completed 3 monthly.

The audit programme includes:

• Hand hygiene and handwashing.
• Waste management.
• Clinical waste management.
• Clinical sharps bins.
• Cleaning schedules.

Risk Assessment and Risk Management

The Practice undertakes appropriate risk assessments to identify infection prevention and control hazards and to ensure that risks are appropriately controlled.

Risk assessments are reviewed periodically and following significant changes, incidents or concerns where appropriate.

Risk assessments are used to:

• Identify potential infection risks.
• Assess the likelihood and potential impact of those risks.
• Establish appropriate control measures.
• Assign responsibility for actions.
• Monitor and review identified risks.

Legionella and Water Safety

The Practice maintains a Legionella and water safety risk assessment.

The Practice has reviewed its water safety arrangements to ensure that checks are undertaken and that the water supply does not present an unacceptable risk to patients, staff or visitors.

The relevant water safety checks and Legionella risk assessment are undertaken quarterly and reviewed by the Practice annually.

Staff Immunisation

The Practice promotes appropriate occupational immunisation for staff in accordance with role requirements and relevant guidance.

All staff are offered Hepatitis B vaccination where appropriate, together with other occupational health vaccinations relevant to their role.

These may include:

• Hepatitis B.
• MMR.
• COVID-19.
• Seasonal influenza.

Staff are encouraged to maintain appropriate vaccination status and to seek occupational health advice where required.

Records of relevant staff immunisation and occupational health arrangements are maintained appropriately.

Staff Training and Competency

All Practice staff are required to complete annual Infection Prevention and Control training online.

Relevant staff are also required to complete sepsis awareness and training.

Training compliance is monitored by the Practice.

The Practice ensures that staff receive appropriate training for their role and that mandatory training is completed within the required timeframe.

Training records are retained as evidence of compliance.

Where training is overdue, appropriate follow-up action is taken by Practice management.

IPC learning and updates are communicated to staff where changes in guidance, policy or Practice procedures require this.

Vaccination and Immunisation Information for Patients

Patients are encouraged to use the alcohol hand gel/sanitiser dispensers that are available throughout the practice. Patient Information is available in the surgery/on the website for:

• Childhood immunisations.
• Whooping cough vaccination.
• Seasonal influenza vaccination and eligibility.
• COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters.
• Shingles vaccination.
• Pneumococcal vaccination.
• Meningitis vaccination.
• RSV vaccination.
• HPV vaccination.
• Travel vaccination.
• Sepsis awareness.

Information is made available through appropriate Practice resources, including posters, patient information leaflets and online information.

The Practice reviews patient information periodically to ensure that information remains appropriate and current.

Policies, procedures, and guidelines available to all staff.

• IP&C policies (NHS Harrogate District IP&C policies)
• SCAN guidance
• Water Safety