Infection Control Statement

Infection Control Annual Statement 2024/2025

Purpose

The annual statement will be generated each year. It will summarise:

• Any learning connected to cases of C. difficile infection and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus blood stream infections and action undertaken; 
• The annual infection control audit summary and actions undertaken;
• Infection Control risk assessments and actions undertaken; 
• Details of staff training (both as part of induction and annual training) with regards to infection prevention & control; 
• Details of infection control advice to patients;
• Any review and update of policies, procedures, and guidelines. 

Background

Strawberry Hill Medical Centre: Leads for Infection Prevention/Control is Caroline Clifton, Practice Nurse and Doctor Zaid Al-Nakeeb. 

This team keeps updated with infection prevention and control practices and share necessary information with staff and patients throughout the year. 

Significant events

Detailed post-infection reviews are carried out across the whole health economy for cases of C. difficile infection and Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) blood stream infections. This includes reviewing the care given by the GP and other primary care colleagues. Any learning is identified and fed back to the surgery for actioning. This year the surgery has been involved in 0 (zero) C. difficile case reviews and 0 (zero) MRSA blood stream infection reviews. 

Audits

Detail what audits were undertaken and by whom and any key changes to practice implemented as a result.

• Infection Control Annual Audit and Efficacy - January 2024 audited by C Clifton
• Hand Hygiene - 22nd January 2024 audited by C Clifton
• ANTT - 18th February 2024 audited by C Clifton 
• Hand Hygiene Audit - July 2023 audited by C Clifton
• Bin Audit - January 2024 audited by L Gilboy - Key Changes: New signs

Infection Control Risk Assessments

Regular Infection Control risk assessments are undertaken to minimise the risk of infection and to ensure the safety of patients and staff. The following Infection Control risk assessments have been completed in the past year and appropriate actions have been taken: 

• Control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH) (done, LG)
• Disposal of waste (done LG)
• Sharps injury (done LG)
• Use of personal protective clothing/equipment (LG) 
• Legionella risk assessment (assured air and water)

Staff training

The IPC nurse/practitioner attended training updates for their role. Training is provided by the BOB ICB Webinars.

All new staff who joined this Surgery in the past 12 months received infection control training within 1 (one) months of employment. This is the mandatory new starter training on e-lfh.

100% of the practice patient-facing staff (clinical staff) completed their annual infection prevention & control update training. 100% of the practice non-patient-facing staff completed their 3-yearly/annual infection prevention & control update training. Reception are now behind screens so three yearly is appropriate. Screen was installed in 1st floor reception during the year. 

Infection Control Advice to Patients

Patients are encouraged to use the alcohol hand gel/sanitiser dispensers that are available throughout the Surgery. 

There is information on the Surgery TV display screens regarding: 

• Shingles Vaccine 
• MMR 
• MRSA 
• Norovirus
• Measles
• Sepsis 

Policies, Procedures and Guidelines

Documents related to infection prevention & control are distributed regularly from the ICL Jintana Loss