Infection Prevention and Control is the work an organisation does to identify potential risks for spread of infection between patients, and between patients and staff, and to take measures to reduce that risk. The Practice takes its responsibility for this very seriously, for the safety of services users and staff. All staff take responsibility for their own role in this, and all staff receive regular training in Infection Prevention and Control appropriate to their role.
- We take additional measures to ensure that we maintain the highest standards:
- We encourage staff and patients to raise any issues or report any incidents relating to cleanliness and infection control. We discuss these and identify improvements we can make to avoid any future problems.
- We have a communication book used for any cleaning issues with our domestic staff.
- We carry out an annual infection control audit to ensure our infection control procedures are working.
- We provide annual staff updates and training on cleanliness and infection control.
- We provide updates at staff clinical / nonclinical forum meetings.
- We review our policies and procedures regularly to make sure they are adequate and meet national guidance.
- We have adopted the Community Infection Prevention and Control Policies for General Practice – NHS Norfolk and Waveney – Written and produced by Community Infection Prevention and Control Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust.
- We maintain the premises and equipment to a high standard and ensure that all reasonable steps are taken to reduce or remove all infection risk. Report any issues in a timely manner.
- The equipment we use is disposable where possible e.g., couch rolls, privacy curtains, hand towels etc, and all other non-disposable equipment is cleaned according to manufacturer’s guidelines, to minimise the risk of infection.
- We make Alcohol Hand Rub Gel available throughout the practice.
Purpose of annual statement
In line with the Department of Health, The Health and Social Care Act 2008: Code of Practice on Prevention and Control of Infection and its Related Guidance (2015), the practice annual statement will be generated each year.
It will summarise:
- Any infection transmission incidents and any action taken (these will have been reported in accordance with our Significant Events Report procedures).
- Details of any infection control audits undertaken, and actions taken.
- Details of any infection control risk assessments undertaken.
- Details of any staff training
- Any review and update of policies, procedures, and guidelines.
Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Leads:
Nurse IPC Lead: Gail Quinn
IPC Deputy: Sharon Crudgington
Infection transmission incidents (Significant Events)
Significant events which may involve examples of good practice as well as learning events are investigated and discussed to see what can be learnt, and to indicate changes that might lead to future improvements. All significant events are discussed in regular clinical meetings and/or non-clinical meetings, and learning is cascaded to all relevant staff.
All significant events are available to staff on our online staff platform, Agilio TeamNet.
- During 2024 – 2025 there were 2 cold chain breaches due to power cuts. Following policy and procedures and using the data loggers, minimal vaccines were lost.
Cold Chain Breach Prevention Plan:
- Data Loggers for each vaccine fridge are downloaded on rotation and fridges are cleaned once month.
- Fridge temperatures are recorded on the paper logs on each fridge twice a day.
- Clinic time is allocated, and a named nurse undertakes fridge temperature check.
- Fridge temperatures are recorded on Agilio once a day.
- Self – Audit for GP Practices on Cold Chain Maintenance is carried out annually.
No other Infection Control significant events.
Infection Prevention and Control Audit Report
| Date Started | 10/10/2024 |
| Address | Beccles Medical Centre St Marys Rd Beccles Waveney Suffolk NR34 9NX |
| Client Name | NHS Norfolk & Waveney ICS |
| Auditor | Penelope Crossman-Jelliff
SCORE 99% |
Infection Prevention Audit and Actions
2024 Audit identified areas of improvement which were reported, repaired, replaced, compliant to guidelines.
All chairs/furniture should be damage free to facilitate cleaning. Replace damaged furniture with non-porous wipeable materials. HBN 00-09: Infection control in the built environment DH 2013; Code of Practice for the prevention and control of infections 2015 Criterion 2 – BMC.
Waiting room chairs Sent away in batches – Compliant 2025
Phlebotomy chairs repaired 2025
Oct 2024 / 2025 Infection Control Audit – Inspections Corrective actions:
| Ensure walls have no defects which reduce effectiveness of cleaning. Repair/refurbish damaged areas so that surfaces are impervious and washable. | HBN 00-09: Infection control in the built environment DH 2013; HBN 00-10 Part B: Walls and ceilings DH 2013 |
| Needs sanding and painting making it washable and impervious to moisture. | HBN 00-09: Infection control in the built environment DH 2013; HBN 00-10 Part B: Walls and ceilings DH 2013 |
| All chairs/furniture should be damage free to facilitate cleaning. Replace damaged furniture with non-porous wipeable materials. | HBN 00-09: Infection control in the built environment DH 2013; Code of Practice for the prevention and control of infections 2015 Criterion 2
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Plan for 2025 – ongoing Maintenance as above.
Infection Prevention Control external inspection is carried out every 18 months, and in-house inspections are carried out on a regular basis.
Areas identified and replaced 2025 –
Phlebotomy divider soiled and non-wipeable – replaced with non-permeable divider.
Couches in clinical room identified damaged – reported and repaired.
Equipment Trolleys identifies as damaged – new ones purchased.
Beccles Medical Centre will continue to undertake the following audits in 2024/2025:
- Infection Prevention and Control audit
- Cold Chain Audit (for safe storage and handling of vaccinations)
- Domestic Cleaning audit
- Hand hygiene audit
Training
All our staff receive annual online training in infection prevention and control.
- All clinical staff undertake Level 2 Infection Prevention and Control training.
- All non-clinical staff undertake Level 1 Infection Prevention and Control training, with the exception of the IPC Deputy who undertakes Level 2.
Policies
All Infection Prevention and Control related policies are kept up to date and reviewed regularly.
Policies relating to Infection Prevention and Control are available to all staff and are reviewed in line with the Infection Control inspection and are amended on an on-going basis as current advice, guidance, and legislation changes.
Infection Control policies are available to all staff on the staff platform, Agilio Teamnet, and communicated to staff when updates or new policies are needed to be read and actioned or circulated amongst staff for reading. These are discussed at clinical and non-clinical meetings on a regular basis.
Communicable infectious disease prevention.
- We have an allocated room, and a box of labelled Personal Protective Equipment is located in the purple corridor cupboard.
- We have hand gel accessible around the surgery for patient use and offer masks if requested.
- Desks / equipment are clenil wiped down before and after each clinic by the clinician using the room.
If you have any concerns about cleanliness or infection control within the Beccles Medical Centre, please report these to our reception staff.
Beccles Medical Centre
December 2025.