WHITEWATER HEALTH MEDICAL PRACTICE
Infection control annual statement 2020/2021
AIM
Provide and maintain a clean and tidy surgery.
Prevent and control the risk of the acquisition of an infection in all our activities.
Promote a safe environment for all patients and staff.
To comply with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (revised 2015)
PURPOSE
The annual statement will be generated each year in November. It will summarise the following:
- Any infection transmission incidents and action taken. These will be reported in accordance with our significant events procedure.
- Details of any infection control audits undertaken and any subsequent actions taken as a result.
- Infection control risk assessments undertaken and any subsequent actions taken as a result.
- Details of staff training.
- Any reviews and updates of policies, procedures and guidelines.
- Details of infection control advice given to patients.
Infection control leads
Practice nurses Terry Crame is the Practice lead for Infection control supported by Joanna Fox, Practice Manager, and Dr Sarah Longstaff General Practitioner and partner for the Practice.
Terry Crame attends the infection control link meetings held by Jacky Hunt Infection control Lead Nurse for North Hampshire CCG & Southern Health Trust on a quarter yearly basis. Any information is cascaded back to the practice team & patients where appropriate.
Annual or CCG lead audits are conducted by Terry Crame and cascaded at nurse meetings.
Minutes of NHCCG meetings are distributed to all medical staff and Practice Manager.
Audits
The following audits have been carried out in the last 12 months:
Infection control covid 6/10/2020
Management of infection control 27/11/2021
Audits will be carried out as per the instructions from Jacky Hunt Infection Control Lead Nurse for North Hampshire CCG and Southern Health Trust on a quarterly basis.
Following these audits our procedures have been reviewed and action plans implemented to ensure best practice is obtained from the results. These action plans are available in the CQC and Infection control files.
We aim to share information with our patients and a copy of the annual statement will be published on our practice website. We will notify our patients of any seasonal outbreaks via our practice website as well as public health recommendations in relation to containing infection.
Significant risk/events relating to infection control
Our number of C difficile cases this year was 0
Our number of EBSL infections this year was 0
Our number of E COLI infections this year was 2
Staff Training
Terry Crame are our infection control link nurse attends all the infection control updates and cascades the information down to all staff, this is done at nursing team meetings held monthly. Minutes are e mailed to all staff.
Policies and Procedure
Our infection prevention and control policies will be reviewed annually and if current advice changes. These are accessible to staff via CQC policies and infection control files in our nurse room 2 treatment room at Hook surgery. We have adopted the Policies set out by Southern Health Foundation Trust as a guide to our procedures.
Risk Assessments
Regular risk assessments will be carried out to minimise the risk of infection and to ensure the safety of staff and patients. The following risk assessments have taken place in the last year and appropriate actions taken.
- Control of substances hazardous to health
- Surgery fixtures and fittings
- Clinical and sharps disposal
Clinical areas
Clinical areas are kept free from clutter and surfaces are wiped after use.
Sharps bins are changed every 3/12 or when full to the line
Clinical waste is disposed of according to guidelines
Surgery Fixtures and fittings
Whitewater Practice employs a cleaning services firm, who are responsible for regular audits for the services that they provide.
The nursing team are responsible for cleaning patient contact treatment areas & equipment between patients. Disposable items are used whenever possible ensuring single patient use of items. Policies are available for COSHH guidance on cleaning materials used and the use of PPE.
Our curtains have been changed from material to disposable and these will be changed every 6 months, in the practice rooms and 12 months in the GP rooms.
Patients
Patients who suspect they have a contagious illness such as chicken pox will be asked to wait in a separate area rather than the main waiting room.
Hand sanitising alcohol gel is available for patients to use on entering and leaving the surgery. Any patients attending for regular wound care dressings who are known to have MRSA will be seen at the end of the nurse list, so that the room can be cleaned afterwards. The need for these precautions will be shared with the patients and be included in their care plans.
During the pandemic Covid 19 all patients with fever or other symptoms relevant covid will be assessed at the winter hub and not at Hook or Hartley Wintney surgeries.
Currently any patients being assessed at Hook or Hartley Wintney the clinicians will be wearing full PPE including visors face masks aprons and gloves.
Review
The annual statement has been completed by Terry Crame & agreed with the practice team. This statement will be reviewed in November 2021 by Elizabeth Bettridge.