Annual Infection Control Statement 2020-2021

This annual statement will be generated each year in March in accordance with the requirements of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance. The report will include the following summary:

• Any infection transmission incidents and any action taken (these will have been reported in accordance with our significant event procedure)
• Details of any infection control audits undertaken and actions undertaken
• Details of any risk assessments undertaken for the prevention and control of infection
• Details of staff training
• Any review and update of policies, procedures and guidelines

Infection Prevention Control (IPC) Lead

The lead for infection prevention and control at Thornhills Medical Practice is Dr Dylan Le

The IPC lead is supported by the management and clinical teams.

Infection Transmission Incidents (Significant Events)

Significant events involve examples of good practice as well as challenging events. Positive events are discussed at meetings to allow all staff to be appraised of areas of best practice. Negative events are managed by the staff member who either identified or was advised of any potential shortcoming. This person will complete a Significant Event Analysis (SEA) form that commences an investigation process to establish what can be learnt and to indicate changes that might lead to future improvements. All significant events are reviewed and discussed in clinical governance meetings. Any learning points are cascaded to all relevant staff where an action plan, including audits or policy review, may follow.

In the past year there have been no significant events raised that related to infection control. There have also been no complaints made regarding cleanliness or infection control.

Infection Prevention Audits

The Annual Infection Prevention and Control audit is typically carried out during August and the next audit is planned for August 2020.

Cleaning audits are carried monthly out by our external cleaning company. These are also attended by a member of the management team.

Risk Assessments

Risk assessments are carried out so that any risk is minimised to be as low as reasonably practicable. Additionally, a risk assessment that can identify best practice can be established and then followed.

In the last year, the following risk assessments were carried out/reviewed:

Covid 19 - Thornhills Medical Practice has followed all local and national guidance and adapted working practices to reduce spread and keep patients and staff safe. For Thornhills Medical Practice, this has meant moving much of the GP consultations to telephone, having designated times to see and assess patients at the surgery, working with our PCN practices to see patients with potential Covid 19 symptoms in ‘Hot Sites’. Patients requiring wound care, blood tests and other essential procedures are still being seen with additional personal protective equipment used. We have carried out risk assessments on all staff. We are also working to keep staff safe by working from home where possible, reducing numbers of staff in office areas and reducing face to face contact.

Training

In addition to staff being involved in risk assessments and significant events, at Thornhills Medical Practice all staff and contractors receive IPC induction training on commencing their post. Thereafter, all staff receive refresher training annually.

Policies and Procedures

Policies relating to infection prevention and control are available to all staff and are reviewed and updated annually. Additionally, all policies are amended on an ongoing basis as per current advice, guidance and legislation changes.

Thornhills Medical Practice has adopted and followed all national infection control guidelines as they are updated and introduced in relation to Covid 19.

Responsibility

It is the responsibility of all staff members at Thornhills Medical Practice to be familiar with this statement and their roles and responsibilities under it.

Review

The IPC lead with the support of the management are responsible for reviewing and producing the annual statement.

This annual statement will be updated on or before March 2022

Signed by Dr Dylan Le
Infection Prevention and Control Lead
For and on behalf of Thornhills Medical Practice