COPPULL MEDICAL PRACTICE
Infection Prevention and Control Policy
Person responsible for review of this policy: Caroline Bassett
Infection prevention and control clinical lead: Dr Harris
Version 2: devised and implemented 7/8/14
Date of next review: August 2015
Purpose
The purpose of the policy is to set out the infection prevention and control
procedures at Coppull Medical Practice.
This policy is relevant to anyone who works at Coppull Medical Practice, including
contractors and visitors.
This policy will be monitored and reviewed annually by the Infection Prevention and
Control Lead.
Commitment of the practice
Coppull Medical Practice are committed to minimising the risk of infection and to
ensure the safety of patients and staff.
Standard Precautions
Hand washing procedures
Washbasins with elbow operated taps, liquid soap dispensers, alcohol rubs, paper
towels and waste bins are provided in all clinical care areas. All clinical and some
non-clinical areas have posters displayed containing hand washing and hand rub
instructions. All clinicians and staff are trained in hand washing procedures.
Protective Clothing
Gloves (non-sterile and sterile), aprons and goggles are available and should be
worn for procedures with associated risk. Gloves and aprons are single use. All
clinicians and staff are trained in the use of personal protective equipment.
Protective equipment is audited monthly.
General Dress Code
The practice has a uniform policy and dress code. The code includes details of
appropriate dress to manage infection control.
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Handling and disposal of healthcare waste including sharps and single usedevices
The practice has a sharps policy. All clinical areas have sharps bins in place. The
practice has a contract to ensure the safe disposal of hazardous waste, including
sharps. All staff and clinicians receive training in the use and disposal of sharp and
disposable instruments.
Handling specimens
The practice has a policy covering handling specimens and dealing with spillages of
body fluids. All practice clinicians and staff have received training on handling
samples and spillages. The practice has a dedicated spillage kit in place and
signage indicating where this can be found.
There is a dedicated sample storage box and fridge. Patients and clinicians are
required to label their own sample and place it in the sealed pathology bag, to
reduce the risk of contamination and to keep handling to a minimum.
All samples are placed in appropriate containers are to be inserted into the approved
plastic bag that is sealed
All blood or potentially infected matter such as urine or faeces for microbiological
examination is treated as high risk and generic precautions are used.
Processing of medical instruments
The practice uses single use instruments for all its procedures. These are disposed
of after each patient. There are no instruments that require sterilisation.
Accidents
In the event of a needle stick injury, the practice follows the Protocol for the
Management of Needle Stick Injuries. The practice has access to occupational
health services.
The practice has a first aid kit and nominated first aiders. There are signs present
indicating where the first aid kit is located and whom should be contacted in the
event of an incident. The first aid kit is checked monthly.
An accident log book is maintained.
Immunisation
Patient immunisation
The practice has a vaccine policy and procedure to ensure vaccines are stored and
managed correctly.
The vaccine fridges are inspected monthly and audited every 3 months. Cleaning
plans are in place for vaccine fridges. Fridge temperatures are recorded daily.
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All immunisers have received training on immunisation, vaccine storage and
management of sharps.
Staff immunisation protection
All clinical and administrative staff are offered vaccination against hepatitis B. Blood
tests are taken to ensure immunity and there is a robust system for ensuring
vaccinations are boosted.
A record of employees’ Hepatitis B status is to be kept and maintained by the
practice nurse.
All staff are offered annual influenza immunisation.
Training
Infection control training takes place for all staff and clinicians as part of the practice
induction and on an annual basis. The practice also provides training on health and
safety, first aid, management of sharps, management of samples and hazardous
fluids/spillages, use of personal protective equipment, COSHH and hand hygiene
(list not exhaustive).
Surgery Cleaning
The practice uses an external company for most of the cleaning requirements. There
is a contract in place with T.C Bibbys & Sons.
There are robust cleaning plans in place, these are completed by each cleaner every
shift. The plans contain a twice daily, daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning
specification in line with current guidance. The plans are audited for compliance and
their content reviewed regularly. The entire practice is formally inspected every 3
months by the practice manager and regularly on an adhoc unannounced basis by
the practice manager and a T.C Bibby manager/supervisor.
A national colour coded cleaning system is in place to reduce cross contamination
risk.
General practice staff are responsible for
 leaving their workspace clear and tidy to allow the contract cleaners to clean
effectively
 Cleaning their own workstation and completing a cleaning log at least once
weekly
 appropriate cleaning of clinical equipment and fixtures between individual
patients
 Keeping all staff areas clean and tidy
 Reporting any issues with cleanliness
 cleaning of spillages which arise during the day
 cleaning of bodily fluids spillages
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Relevant guidance:
The National Specifications for cleanliness in the NHS; Guidance on setting and
measuring performance outcomes in primary care medical and dental premises;
August 2010
National institute for clinical excellence, Prevention and control of health-care
associated infections in primary and community care; March 2012
World Health Organisation; Guidance on hand hygiene in health care:2009
Clinical areas
The nursing team are responsible for ensuring infection control is maintained in the
clinical areas. A robust programme for cleaning medical equipment is in place and
this is performed at least once every week (more frequent if appropriate). A cleaning
checklist is completed at each cleaning interval. The cleaning checklist is monitored
for compliance by the senior practice nurse and a report submitted to the practice
manager.
A weekly programme is in place for ensuring the expiry date of drugs, vaccines and
medical equipment is monitored and items are replaced if nearing expiry. There is a
checklist that is completed and this is checked for compliance 3 monthly by the
senior practice nurse and a report submitted to the practice manager.
Audit and risk assessment
The practice manager performs an annual infection control audit and an infection
control inspection of the entire practice every 3 months. Health and safety risk
assessment/inspections are performed monthly. The practice manager meets with
the Infection Control Lead to discuss policy reviews or any other issues relating to
infection control.
The practice manager works closely with the contract cleaning manager to ensure
cleaning is of a high standard and any issues are resolved swiftly. The practice
manager also works closely with the senior practice nurse to monitor infection control
and cleaning of clinical areas.
All minor surgery procedures are audited through patient feedback to monitor
infection rates. Infection rates are historically excellent with post-operative infections
being very rare.
The practice engages with patients through feedback, complaints and patient
participation group. The practice has not received any negative feedback indicating
patients have concerns regarding infection control or cleanliness within the practice.
The practice actively participates in significant event analysis.
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