Annual Infection Prevention Control Statement 2025.
Forest House Surgery
25 Leicester Road, Shepshed. LE12 9DF
24.2.2025
Purpose
This annual statement is generated each year in February, 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.
Forest House Surgery Infection Prevention and Control Team
IPC Lead (GP Partner) - Dr Joanne Watson
Practice Nurse – Tracey
Administrator – Louise
Cleaning Team- Sangita, Carol and Aileen.
We follow The Code of Practice for GP Practices using the National Standards of Healthcare, Cleanliness in General Practice.
Policies
The infection prevention and control-related policies and procedures that have been reviewed in the last year include, but are not limited, to:
1. Antimicrobial stewardship
2. Aseptic technique
3. BBVs (Blood-borne viruses)
4. C. difficile (Clostridioides difficile)
5. CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease)
6. Hand hygiene
7. Invasive devices
8. MRGNB, including CPE
9. MRSA
10. Notifiable diseases
11. Outbreaks of communicable disease
12. Patient placement and assessment for infection risk
13. PPE (Personal protective equipment)
14. PVL-SA (Panton-Valentine Leukocidin staphylococcus aureus)
15. Respiratory and cough hygiene
16. Respiratory illnesses
17. Safe disposal of waste, including sharps
18. Safe management of blood and body fluid spillages
19. Safe management of care equipment
20. Safe management of linen, including uniforms and workwear
21. Safe management of sharps and inoculation injuries
22. Safe management of the care environment
23. Scabies
24. Specimen collection
25. SICPS and TBPs (Standard infection control precautions and Transmission based precautions)
26. Venepuncture
27. Viral gastroenteritis/Norovirus
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.
Infection prevention audits
Internal audits conducted covering the year 2024. Outcome shows all standards were met.
· Annual Infection Prevention and Control Audit Tool of Compliance
Clinical Procedure Audits
· Post procedure infection rates for Contraceptive Implant Fittings/removals/replacements
· Post procedure infection rates for Contraceptive Coil fittings/removal/replacements.
· Post procedure infection rates for Minor Operations.
Vaccine Audits
· Vaccine Fridge Temperature Logs Audit
· Vaccine Cleaning Logs Audit
· Cold Chain Compliance Audit
Significant Events in 2024 relating to IPC.
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 practice meetings. 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 one significant event raised which related to infection control.
11.03.2024: Patient fall in the car park leading to blood spillage. Outcome- correct infection prevention control action was taken to protect other patients and staff.
No complaints have been made regarding cleanliness or infection control.
Risk assessments
Risk assessments are carried out so that any risk is minimised and made to be as low as is reasonably practicable. Additionally, a risk assessment that can identify best practice can be established and then followed.
Temperature Control Monitoring for Legionella risk
COSHH
Privacy curtain cleaning or changes
Clostridium Difficile cases from Antibiotic prescribing within FHS.
Training
In addition to staff being involved in risk assessments and significant events, at Forest House Surgery all staff and contractors receive IPC induction training on commencing their post. Thereafter, all staff receive refresher training with changes in policy or role or every three years.
Dr Joanne Watson
Infection Control Statement 2024