Statement

It is a requirement of the ‘Health and Social Care Act 2008 Code of Practice on the Prevention and Control of Infections’ and related guidance that the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Lead produces an annual statement regarding compliance with good practice on IPC.

This statement provides an overview of: 

• Any infection transmission incidents and any actions taken (these will have been reported in accordance with the ‘Significant Event Procedure’)
• Details of infection control audits undertaken, and actions undertaken/planned
• Details of risk assessments undertaken for prevention and control of infection
• Details of staff training
• Review and update of policies, procedures and guidelines
• Future actions

Infection Control Leads

The main practice clinical lead for infection control is Heidi Crompton Nurse Manager, supported by Joanna Cheek Practice Nurse and Helen Avant Practice Nurse.

The infection control lead team have the following duties and responsibilities within the practice:

• Keeping up to date with changes in Infection Control
• Ensuring use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Checking the surgery for cleanliness
• Performing infection control related audits
• Reporting any significant events or updates to the wider team
• Ensuring regular staff training on ICP

Infection Transmission Incidents (Significant Events)

Significant events (which may involve examples of near misses or good practice as well as challenging events) are investigated in detail to see what can be learned and make changes that might lead to future improvements.  All significant events are reviewed in the quarterly practice meetings and learning is cascaded to all relevant staff.

In the past year there have been no significant events raised, that relate to infection control.

Infection Prevention Audit and Actions

The practice carries out IPC audits every 6 months (this is an update to previous annual audits); the last audit was completed in May 2025. This involved a comprehensive review of all aspects of infection prevention and control within the surgery. The audit demonstrated good IPC compliance throughout the practice.

As a result of the audit, some minor actions and changes are planned for example:

• A reminder to staff to ensure posters on walls are laminated
• Waste stream posters required in some rooms

Risk Assessments

Risk assessments are carried out annually so that best practice can be established and then followed.  In the last 12 months the following risk assessments were carried out/reviewed.

• Legionella (Water) Risk Assessments: The practice water safety risk assessment is outsourced and measures to ensure that the water supply does not pose a risk to patients, visitors or staff is carried out on a monthly rolling programme of interventions
• Cleaning specifications, frequencies and cleanliness: Cleaning frequencies were developed in accordance with national guidance. Monthly assessments of cleaning processes for Preston are conducted.
• Immunisation: As a practice we ensure that all our staff are up to date with their Hepatitis B immunisations and offered any occupational health vaccinations applicable to their role (i.e. MMR, Seasonal Flu and Covid vaccination). We take part in the National Immunisation campaigns for patients and offer vaccinations offsite, in house and home visits to our housebound patient population.
• Curtains: Disposable curtains are used in clinical rooms and are changed every 12 months.  All curtains are regularly reviewed and changed more frequently if damaged or soiled.
• Hand washing sinks: The practice has clinical hand washing sinks in every room for staff to use. Some of the sinks do not meet the latest standards but we have mitigated this by: removing plugs; covering overflows and reminding staff to turn off taps that are not ‘hands free’ with paper towels to minimise the risk of cross-contamination. All our soap/hand sanitiser dispensers are refilled with sealed cartridges to prevent any cross contamination.
• Clinical risk assessments incorporate IPC examples of which: offsite flu clinic risk assessments 

Weymouth Bay Medical Practice undertake the following audits:

• Infection control audit of rooms and buildings (6 monthly) last completed: 20/05/25
• Handwashing audit for all clinical and non-clinical staff (during April and May 2025)
• Vaccine storage audit (Annually) last updated:  30/05/25 
• Sharps bin and waste stream (6 monthly) last completed: 20/05/25
• Vaccination stock audits (monthly)
• Fridge temperature audits (monthly)

Training

All our staff receive mandatory annual training in IPC via online learning on Practice Index as well as any relevant updates at nurse meetings. All training is logged on personnel files and ICP is part of all new staff inductions. 

Hand Hygiene training carried out March/April 2025 by staff watching a training video and session at Practice nurse meeting April 2025 to refresh on handwashing techniques. Audits carried out annually by our Lead IPC Nurses during April and May 2025.

The IPC Leads have joined the Queens Nurse Institute IPC forum where training and meetings are held online. 

Policies

All Infection Prevention Control related policies are in date.

Policies relating to Infection Control are available to all staff and are reviewed and updated as appropriate, all are amended on an on-going basis as current advice, guidance and legislation changes.  Infection Control policies are available on shared for all staff to read.

Antibiotic Stewardship

The practice is committed to antibiotic stewardship and all clinicians are advised to prescribe in accordance with SCAN or local guidance. 

Risk assessments

Responsibility

It is the responsibility of staff at Weymouth Bay Medical Practice to be familiar with this statement and their roles and responsibilities within this document.

Review Date: May 2026

Responsibility for Review: The ICP Main Lead is responsible for reviewing and producing the Annual Statement.

• Heidi Crompton (Nursing team manager)

 If you have any concerns, questions or queries in regard to infection prevention control at the Weymouth Bay Medical practice please contact us and we aim to respond to you as soon as possible.

27/05/2025