Infection Control Annual Statement

Purpose

This annual statement will be generated each year in April 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 practice website and will include the following summary:

• Any infection transmission incidents and any action taken. These will be reported in accordance with our significant events procedure.
• Details of any infection control audits undertaken, and actions undertaken
• Details of any control risk assessments undertaken
• Details of staff training
• Any review and update policies, procedures, and guidelines

Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Lead

The lead for infection prevention and control at Kings Corner Surgery is Gill Mitchell (Practice Nurse). 

The IPC lead is supported by Carly Morris (Operation Manager).

Infection transmission incidents (significant events)

In the past year there have been zero IPC related significant events. There have been zero complaints made regarding cleanliness or infection control.

Audits

1. An external IPC inspection was completed on 12th May 2023 with Vanessa Seeboruth, Frimley ICB IPC lead.

2. An audit on minor surgery was done. It is as follows:

• 7 minor surgery was performed. It was sent off for histology. There was no post minor surgery infection and histology result was benign. 
• 82 invasive injections were given. No post injection infections were reported.
• 40 IUD were fitted. No post coil infections were reported.
• 6 implants were fitted and no post implant infections were reported.
• 11 implant removals were done and no infections were reported. 

3. Room audits are carried out bi-annually by Nurse Nikki Sly. No major issues were noted.

• All bedside curtains have been changed this year to new curtains fit for purpose.

4. Hand washing audit is done bi-annually for all staff. This is carried out by nurse Gill Mitchell, and she watches all staff wash their hands. Hand washing guides are displayed above all sinks in the Practice.

• All staff washed their hands for the appropriate length of time showing all 12 steps.

5. Vaccine fridge audit was carried out by Nurse Gill Mitchell. No major issues were noted.

• There were some days missing on vaccine fridge temperature check. The nursing team need to try and make sure this is done daily. Although there is an internal thermometer to help bridge the gap on any missing data. 

The inadequacies that were noted are being addressed to ensure compliance. We aim to do more to share information with our patients and will therefore publish this Annual Statement on our practice website.

Needle stick injuries

No needle stick injuries have been reported this year.

Practice Cleaning

Kings Corner Surgery employs a cleaning company. Audits are carried out by the manager of this company to ensure standard of cleanliness and hygiene is maintained and if we have any concerns, we log this in our cleaner’s logbook.

The company name is Smarter Services Ltd. 

There has been no feedback from any patients indicating any problems with the cleaning within the practice.

Staff Training

All staff undertake the appropriate level of Infection Prevention control training at induction and annually thereafter. Training records are recorded with the Operation Manager. 

Practice maintenance

This year the practice has removed all carpets from clinical/patient spaces and now have laminate/clinical flooring.

Taps in clinical rooms have all been changed to combined taps with elbow adapter to comply with correct hand washing techniques.

Toys, Books and Magazines

Toys, books, and magazines have not been available in the waiting room for some time now. They will not be returning.

Policies, procedures and guidelines

Any policies and procedures relating to infection, Prevention Control are reviewed and updated annually. However, any new legislation or guidance that comes into action before a review date this will be added, and the review date will be changed accordingly. 

Responsibility 

It is the responsibility of all staff members at Kings Corner Surgery to be familiar with this statement and their roles and responsibilities under it.

Review

The IPC lead (Gill Mitchell) and Operation Manager (Carly Morris) are responsible for reviewing and producing the annual statement. This annual statement will be updated on or before April 2025.