We aim to keep our surgery clean and tidy and offer a safe environment to our patients and staff. We are proud of our modern, purpose built Practice and endeavour to keep it clean and well maintained at all times.
If you have any concerns about cleanliness or infection control, please report these to our Reception staff.
Our GPs and nursing staff follow our Infection Control Policy to ensure the care we deliver and the equipment we use is safe. Our Infection Control Lead is Practice Nurse Louise Walters.
We take additional measures to ensure we maintain the highest standards:
- Encourage staff and patients to raise any issues or report any incidents relating to cleanliness and infection control. We can discuss these and identify improvements we can make to avoid any future problems.
- Carry out an annual infection control audit to make sure our infection control procedures are working.
- Provide annual staff updates and training on cleanliness and infection control
- Review our policies and procedures at least every year to make sure they are adequate and meet national guidance.
- Maintain the premises and equipment to a high standard within the available financial resources and ensure that all reasonable steps are taken to reduce or remove all infection risk.
- Use washable or disposable materials for items such as couch rolls, modesty curtains, floor coverings, towels etc, and ensure that these are laundered, cleaned or changed frequently to minimise risk of infection.
- Make Alcohol Hand Rub Gel available throughout the building
Purpose
The annual statement will be generated each year in March and will summarise :
- Details of any infection transmission incidents and action taken (reported in line with our significant event procedure).
- Details of any infection control audits undertaken and action taken.
- Details of any infection control risk assessments undertaken.
- Staff training.
- Review and update of policies / procedures / guidelines which may be required.
Training
All members of our nursing team have completed Infection Control training in the last 12 months, along with the wider team.
Significant events
We were last visited October 2016. Rating of “Good” achieved. Compliant in Cleanliness and Infection Control.
There have been no in-house significant events in relation to infection control in the previous 12 months.
Infection prevention and control
The infection control lead, the Lead Practice Nurse and Practice Manager undertake a risk audit around infection control issues in the practice environment to ensure all areas are compliant. This year we have reviewed all reuseable clinical equipment, eg ECG machine, Ear Irrigation unit, Spirometry machine, etc.
Downstairs there are 6 consulting rooms in total and 1 Treatment Room all with washable flooring. The Waiting Room had washable flooring. We have completed Legionella Risk Assessment and water thermostats have been checked, for appropriate clinical rooms.
There is a responsibility for the clinician working in the room to ensure the clinical environment is safe and uncluttered to assist the cleaners and prevent transmission of infection.
Cleaning specifications, frequencies and cleanliness of equipment
The Practice Manager Carla Mathurin and our contract cleaners have worked together to update the cleaning specifications for the practice. This is an ongoing process as new local and national guidelines are published. Single use mop heads are in use and colour coded kit is used pertaining to surgery areas cleaned.
Sharps handling and clinical waste disposal
Sharps boxes correctly handled with lids secured correctly, including those received from patients
Clinical waste boxes assembled correctly and labelled and dated correctly
for external secure storage, pending collection by CCG courier.
Specific actions for next 12 months
- Log all staff have appropriate vaccinations, focus on MMR
- Upgrade hygiene units
- Update protocols for all infection control and decontamination issues in line with CQC requirements.
- Ensure all clinical staff complete hand washing technique and infection control awareness training each year.
Completed March 2024 by Louise Walters, Lead Practice Nurse and Infection Control Lead, with assistance of Practice Manager Carla Mathurin.