WARRENGATE MEDICAL CENTRE

Infection Control Annual Statement
2022/2023

PURPOSE

In line with the Health and Social Care Act 2008: Code of practice on prevention and control of infection and its related guidance, this Annual Statement will be generated each year. It will summarise:

• Any infection transmission incidents and any lessons learnt and action taken
• Details of any infection prevention and control (IPC) audits undertaken and any subsequent actions taken arising from these audits
• Details of any issues that may challenge infection prevention and control including risk assessment undertaken and subsequent actions implemented as a result
• Details of staff IPC training
• Details of review and update of IPC policies, procedures and guidance.

INFECTION CONTROL LEAD

The Infection Control Lead will liaise with the Practice to enable the integration of Infection Control principles and consequent policies into standards of care within the practice based on good practice.

They will be the first point of contact for practice staff in respect of Infection Control issues. They will help create and maintain an environment which will ensure the safety of the patient / client, carers, visitors and health care workers in relation to Healthcare Associated Infection (HCAI).

The Infection Control Lead will carry out the following within the practice:

• Increase awareness of Infection Control issues amongst staff and clients
• Help motivate colleagues to improve practice
• Improve local implementation of Infection Control policies
• Ensure that practice based Infection Control audits are undertaken
• Assist in the education of colleagues
• Help identify any Infection Control problems within the practice and work to resolve these, where necessary in conjunction with the local Infection Control Team
• Act as a role model within the practice
• Disseminate key Infection Control messages to their colleagues within the practice

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

There have been no significant events reported regarding infection control issues in the period covered by this report.

AUDITS

Our last infection control was an internal self-audit which was done in August 2022 and carried out under instructions from the Infection Prevention and Control Team. Our overall score in this assessment was 98%.

Historically based on this assessment score the Practice would have self-audited again in 2022/23. However, given that Infection Prevention and Control remains a key priority for the Government the Infection Prevention and Control team have reviewed these auditing processes. We informed earlier in 2023 therefore that all GP Practices, regardless of previous years scores, will now receive a yearly visit and additional supportive visits as required by a member of the team.

STAFF TRAINING

Staff training is provided annually from the following sources:

• On line e-learning via the E-learning For Health website for all staff

POLICIES, PROTOCOLS AND GUIDELINES

We annually update our infection control policies and protocols (unless there is a change in guidance in which case they are updated to reflect the new guidance), all of which are all available for staff on the shared Practice folders.