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, to take measures to reduce that risk. The Practice takes its responsibility to do this very seriously. All staff take responsibility for their own role in this, and all staff receive regular training in their role in Infection Prevention and Control.
We take additional measures to ensure we maintain the highest standards:
- Encourage staff and patients to raise any issues or report any incidents relating to cleanliness and infection control. We can 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.
- Quarterly Functional risk 4 audits by EPBS – Eastpoint Business Services.
- Carry out an annual infection control audit to make sure our infection control procedures are working.
- Provide annual staff updates and training on cleanliness and infection control.
- Review our policies and procedures annually to make sure they are adequate and meet national guidance.
- 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.
- Maintain the premises and equipment to a high standard and ensure that all reasonable steps are taken to reduce or remove all infection risk.
- Equipment is disposable where possible e.g., couch rolls, privacy curtains, hand towels etc.
- All other non-disposable equipment is cleaned according to manufacturer’s guidelines, to minimise the risk of infection.
- 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 Lead: Gail Quinn
Supplies and Facilities Officer: Rebecca Snowling
Infection transmission incidents (Significant Events)
Significant events which may involve examples of good practice as well as challenging events are investigated in detail to see what can be learnt and to indicate changes that might lead to future improvements. All significant events are reviewed in the monthly 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.
Significant events regarding fridge failures/ cold chain breaches x3.
- Data Loggers have been purchased for each of our 9 Fridges, on clinics time is now allocated and named nurse allocated to do Fridge checks twice daily, new staff training has been improved and information is in reception for advice on receiving fridge items from delivery driver.
Several Clostridium Difficile Significant events with one best practice met.
These have each been discussed at Clinical Forum and minutes available for all non-attending staff to read.
Changes have been made:
- NICE Guidelines – Loperamide is pernicious – not to be prescribed.
- Treatment, Vancomycin is the first line treatment to be used.
- Pharmacist contacted PCN (Primary Care Network) pharmacy lead re Vancomycin availability
Loperamide is not prescribed nor recommended as OTC medication unless cause is known. Request stool samples a lot earlier. Vancomycin availability is now being stocked at Tesco Pharmacy Beccles
Infection Prevention Audit and Actions
The latest Annual Infection Prevention and Control audit was completed in August 2021. This involves a comprehensive review of all aspects of infection prevention and control within the surgery.
As a result of this audit, the following changes were made at Beccles Medical Centre:
- The replacement of all carpeted areas and general decorating throughout the surgery has been carried out to run in line with current IPC guidelines.
- Sinks in three of the clinical rooms have been upgraded to meet IPC guidelines.
- Clinical chairs have been recovered with a wipeable vinyl material to meet with IPC guidelines.
Beccles Medical Centre will continue to undertake the following audits in 2022:
- Annual Infection Prevention and Control audit
- Cold Chain (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.
Policies
All Infection Prevention and Control related policies are kept up to date and reviewed annually.
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 Agilio Teamnet and communicated to staff when updates or new policies are needed to be read and actioned or circulated amongst staff for reading if preferred. These are discussed at clinical and non-clinical meetings on a regular basis.
COVID 19
During the Covid pandemic as a practice we responded quickly and efficiently to the new government guidelines and followed strategic operational plans set out.
PPE – Personal Protective Equipment was readily available to protect our patients and staff, face masks were worn by all staff moving around the building and in shared office spaces, everyone was encouraged to always observe social distancing rules. We now offer to wear masks at the patient request as it is no longer policy to always wear them around the practice.
Desks are clenil wiped down before and after each clinic.
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
Dec 2022