KMP: Infection Control Annual Statement: December 2015.
Our aim is to keep a clean and tidy surgery, to promote a safe environment for staff, patients and
visitors in line with national and local guidelines.
This environment is the interface between the patient and the organisation and it provides both a
practical and safe area in which to provide patient care.
Every single person who works in healthcare has a responsibility to reduce infection risk by practising
standard principles of infection control. This includes direct contact, indirect contact and airborne
transmission.
Purpose:
The annual statement will be generated on an annual basis and will summarise:
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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
Background:
The infection control lead is Judith Marsh our Nurse Manager supported by Dr Rajasekar our CQC
Lead GP partner and Nicola Flisher our Practice Manager.
Knowledge, information and any updates are shared with all staff
Training:
All members of our nursing team have completed Infection Control level 1 training in the last 12
months and all have completed Level 2. The two new members of the team are working towards
Level 2.
All the GPs have completed Level 1 infection control training. Those GPs responsible for performing
minor surgery or other procedures remain updated re: infection control principles as per their
continuing professional development needs.
The cleaners are working towards the online CQC cleaning standards training online.
Significant Events:
The practice has not yet been visited by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and there have been no
in-house significant events in relation to infection control in the previous 12 months.
Infection Prevention and Control:
We have had a clinical waste audit carried out in November 2015 and await any specific
recommendations and the actions form last year’s audit were completed as planned.
The Nurse Manager and Practice Manager will carry out an annual risk audit around infection control
issues in the practice environment on an annual basis, to ensure all areas are compliant.
This year we have reviewed all consulting room flooring and chairs. Downstairs there are now 10
consulting rooms in total. This includes 3 clinical treatment rooms and two GP consulting rooms with
appropriate clinical treatment washable flooring with the aim of a third GP consulting room to have the
floor replaced in 2016.
Upstairs there are 7 consulting rooms in total. This includes 2 clinical treatment rooms with
appropriate clinical treatment room washable flooring and one of the GP consulting rooms has part
washable flooring.
In line with CQC requirements, all fabric covered patient chairs in consulting rooms have been
replaced with chairs with wipeable surfaces in 2015.
All clinical rooms have had the material curtains replaced with disposable curtains which will be
changed on a 6 monthly basis in line with CQC infection control requirements.
Spot checks are conducted monthly and if minor issues are identified, these will be documented and
rectified as soon as possible. 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 Nicola Flisher and our cleaners have worked together to update the cleaning
specifications for the practice. Judith Marsh has updated the policy for frequency of decontamination
and cleanliness of equipment. This is an ongoing process as new local and national guidelines are
published.
We now have a medical devices register with each piece of clinical equipment being calibrated on an
annual basis with clear guidelines to how to clean / decontaminate each device.
Legionella:
A legionella risk assessment was completed in September 2014 using recognised testing kits in line
with Health & Safety local and National guidelines.
Policies, procedures and guidelines:
This year policies reviewed and updated have included; infection control, clinical waste, urine
specimens, decontamination and disposal of sharps to ensure all are adequate for a general practice
environment. These policies will be reviewed and updated annually as appropriate. This is an ongoing
process and amendments will be made as current advice changes.
Specific Actions for next 12 mths:
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Action plan for actions from clinical waste audit when it is reported
Annual updating of protocols for all infection control and decontamination issues.
Work with cleaners to ensure compliance as per CQC requirements
Change of flooring in GP consulting rooms as appropriate to wipeable surface.
Completed December 2015
Judith Marsh