Infection Control

Purpose

This annual statement will be generated each year in 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. The report will be published on the organisation’s website and will include the following summary:

Any infection transmission incidents and any action taken (these will have been reported in accordance with our significant event procedure)
Details of any infection control audits carried out and actions undertaken
Details of any risk assessments undertaken for the prevention and control of infection
Details of staff training
Any review and update of policies, procedures and guidelines

Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) lead

The joint leads for infection prevention and control at Langley House are Michele Hotchkiss, Assistant Practitioner in our nursing team (Clinical) and Sam Boseley, Reception Supervisor/Victoria Hamer, Practice Manager (Non-Clinical).

a. Infection transmission incidents (significant events)

Significant events involve examples of good practice as well as challenging events.
Positive events are discussed at meetings to allow all staff to be appraised in areas of best practice.
Negative events are managed by the staff member who either identified or was advised of any potential shortcoming. This person will complete a Significant Event Analysis (SEA) form which commences an investigation process to establish what can be learnt and to indicate changes that might lead to future improvements.
All significant events are reviewed and discussed at several meetings each month. Any learning points are cascaded to all relevant staff where an action plan, including audits or policy review, may follow.
In the past year, there have been 0 significant events raised which related to infection control. There have also been 0 complaints made regarding cleanliness or infection control.

b. Infection prevention audit and actions

We complete an annual audit for both Langley House and our Bosham Surgery and infection control leads are responsible for dealing with any action points and trying to work around the myriad of problems presented by a listed building. This year, our actions have included raising points with our external cleaning contractor regarding disposable cleaning cloths and mop heads, ensuring wall mounted sharps bins at Bosham and redecorating consulting rooms at Langley House and Bosham Surgery.
We have also conducted audits on PPE usage, handwashing and aseptic technique amongst our clinical staff.

c. Risk assessments

Risk assessments are carried out so that any risk is minimised and made to be as low as is reasonably practicable. In the last year, we carried out COSHH risk assessment including sharps usage and digitalised our staff vaccination risk assessment.

d. Training

In addition to staff being involved in risk assessments and significant events, all staff and contractors receive IPC induction training on commencing their post. Thereafter, all staff receive refresher training online annually. Our clinical infection control lead attends NHS Sussex link network meetings. We work with the NHS Sussex infection control team for any infection control surveillance queries/contribute to root cause analysis.

e. Policies and procedures

Policies relating to infection prevention and control are available to all staff and are reviewed and updated annually. Additionally, all policies are amended on an ongoing basis as per current advice, guidance and legislation changes.

Our commitment to cleanliness

Cleaning summary

Keeping the NHS clean and preventing infection is everybody’s responsibility from the GP Partners to the healthcare cleaners. It is important for patients, visitors, the public and staff.

Cleanliness matters, and to ensure consistency throughout the NHS, and to support healthcare services, this commitment has been adopted in every organisation.

This Charter sets out our commitment to ensure a consistently high standard of cleanliness is delivered in all of our healthcare facilities. It also sets out how we would like you to help us maintain high standards.

We will:

Treat patients in a clean and safe environment and minimise exposure to healthcare associated infections.
Provide a well maintained, clean and safe environment, using the most appropriate and up to date cleaning methods and frequencies.
Maintain fixtures and fittings to an acceptable condition to enable effective and safe cleaning to take place regularly.
Allocate specific roles and responsibilities for cleaning, linked to infection prevention and control, that are underpinned by strong, clear leadership that encourages a culture where cleanliness matters.
Have clinical leads who will establish and promote a cleanliness culture across their organisation.
Constantly review cleanliness and improve performance.
Take account of your views about the quality and standards of cleanliness by involving patients and visitors in reporting and monitoring how well we are doing.
Provide the public with clear information on any measures which they can take, to assist in the prevention and control of healthcare associated infections.
Provide the public with clear and precise information relating to the potential risk of contracting a healthcare associated infection. This will include highlighting other helpful information sources so that patients and public can access up to date local data.
Provide structured and pro-active education and training to ensure all our staff are competent in delivering infection prevention and control practices within the remit of their role.
Design any new facilities with ease of cleaning in mind.

We ask patients, visitors and the public to:

Follow good hygiene practices which are displayed in and around the organisation.
Tell us if you require any further information about cleanliness or prevention of infection.
Work with us to monitor and improve standards of cleanliness and prevention of infection.

Category: FR4

Infection prevention and control in our GP practice

Langley House Surgery provides consistent and excellent infection prevention control as part of everyday practice to ensure those using our services receive safe and effective care.
Each area of the practice has its own cleaning specification adhered to by all practice staff and cleaners.
Our contracted cleaning company is Acadia Services Ltd who adhere to a full schedule of general cleaning.
Daily, weekly and monthly audits of standards of infection control are completed by practice staff.
All staff complete annual infection control training and access to relevant policies.
All staff adhere to the correct Personal Protective equipment guidelines.
All staff are appropriately immunised to keep themselves and other safe.
Regular infection control and hand hygiene events are held at the practice to raise awareness of its importance.
Information posters and guidance are situated throughout the practice to educate patients and staff.
Water testing and outlet monitoring takes place weekly by practice staff and monthly by a regulated company.
Each area of the practice has a colour coding in line with the national colour coding scheme .
If any issues regarding infection control practice is noticed by patients, we encourage them to report this to the practice manager.
All patients are required to provide clinical specimens in appropriate containers to maintain sterility and adhere to infection control guidelines.
We ask patients to ensure that the correct waste streams are followed. All waste is disposed of by an appropriate waste contractor.

Cleaning Responsibilities:

Victoria Hamer, Practice Manager – overall strategy
Lynn Mayne, Assistant Practice Manager – liaison with cleaning company over standards and audit
Sam Boseley/Michele Hotchkiss – Infection Control leads
Acadia Services Ltd – provision of 2 cleaners and supplies

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