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Infection Control Annual Statement 2023-24
Purpose
This annual statement will be generated each year 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. It summarises: -
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 prevention and control of infection.
Details of staff training.
Any review and update of policies, procedures, and guidelines.
Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Lead
The Lead for Infection Prevention and Control is Dr Bhupinder Kohli (GP Partner). Audits & Documentation checked are managed by Maisy Binion (Group Practice Manager). The Infection Prevention Control Lead is supported by site leads who complete monthly internal infection control audits.
Church Road Health:
Jaynnes Mwaniki (Practice Nurse), Definite Mabhodo-Chiweshe (Practice Nurse) & Jahanara Khanom (Nurse Associate)
Stratford Village Surgery:
Fay-Vincent Dorgan (Health Care Assistant)
Glen Road Medical Centre & Cumberland Medical Centre:
Sahima Khanom (Health Care Assistant) & Beverley Biggs (Practice Nurse)
E7 Health:
Fateha Al Mamun (Assistant Practice Manager) & Rahat Rana (Health Care Assistant)
As of October 2023 all leads are up to date with their infection control training.
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, these are documented on Teamnet.
Below are the raised significant events across all our sites that has happened in relation to infection control:
Church Road Health:
Building Cleaning Management: 01/02/2022 - During our CQC mock had noticed the cleaner left bucket of water with hazardous liquid inside at the reception and there was strong smell of bleach. This was very alarming as it is a hazard for patients/children around. Building management need to train cleaners at an advance level to avoid any hazards. We work in a building with patients who are minor and vulnerable. Staff to be vigilant when cleaners are around to ensure of safe space for patients.
Stratford Village Surgery:
Cold Chain Breach: 09/09/2022 - On site intruded alarm went off at around 04:30am, staff from the surgery. There was a power cut in the local area, electricity was confirmed to be back on at 07:30am so estimated that the fridges of vaccinations were off for up to 3 hours. Vaccines disposed.
Cold Chain Breach: 25/11/2022 - The admin team working in reception that day didn't identify the box of immunisations straight away and pass them onto one of the nurses to refrigerate. Vaccines ended up sitting in reception over the weekend and expired. Vaccines disposed.
Cold Chain Breach: 05/01/2023 – Travel Vaccines arrived in a bag but weren't acknowledged by the reception staff and passed onto the nurse to refrigerate. I found them sitting in reception on Friday morning and had to dispose of them.
Cold Chain Breach: 21/03/2023 - The practice receives vaccines delivered at the reception for the practice staff to store within room 6. A patient care manager entered the office at 08:00am on Monday 20th of March to find the vaccine delivery placed on the reception desk from the previous Friday. Vaccines disposed.
Glen Road Medical Centre & Cumberland Medical Centre:
Water Management: 31/05/2022 - Upon review of audits by the practice, it was highlighted that the 'Hot Tap' did not meet the required threshold of 52c.
E7 Health:
Cold Chain Breach: 12/05/2023 – Power cut on site caused an issue with the temperature readings in vaccine fridge. Cold chain was broken which resulted in 345 vaccines being disposed of.
All significant events are reviewed at the monthly Customer Care Meeting and learning is cascaded to all relevant staff.
Infection Prevention Audit and Actions
The Annual Infection Prevention and Control audit was completed by Infection prevention solutions and will be reviewed on the 1st November 2023.
First 4 Health Group Practices plan to undertake the following audits in 2023:
Safer Sharps Risk Assessment
Public information shared for Infection Control Annual Statement on practice website for public information
Vaccine Cleaning Schedule of Fridge
Risk Assessments
Risk assessments are carried out so that best practice can be established and then followed. In the last year, the following risk assessments were carried out / reviewed: -
Legionella (Water) Risk Assessment: - All sites have conducted and reviewed its water safety risk assessment to ensure that the water supply does not pose a risk to patients, visitors, or staff.
Immunisation: - As an Organisation we ensure that all of 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). First 4 Health Group encourage all employees to have the COVID 19 vaccinations as recommended by the Department of Health for Primary Care.
COSHH: All sites have conducted and reviewed COSHH risk assessment and reviewed on a regular basis.
Cold Chain & Fridge Storage - Quarterly Risk Assessment Self Audit Tool: All sites have completed a quarterly risk assessment tool which assesses fridge and vaccine storage and compliance.
Other examples
Covid Risk Assessments: - with the increased need of PPE with COVID-19 pandemic First 4 Health Group have secured access to the NHS PPE supplies to ensure that all staff are provided with sufficient resources to meet the changing needs due to the risk of exposure to COVID-19. All staff have undertaken a Covid Risk assessment and where identified at high risk staff will be protected from face to face contact with patients of medium or high risk of disease.
Cleaning specifications, frequencies, and cleanliness
All sites have cleaning specification and frequency policy which their cleaners and staff complete. An assessment of cleanliness is conducted by the practice / hospital cleaning team and logged on schedules. This includes all aspects in the surgery including cleanliness of equipment and the responsibility of the property owners.
Training
All First 4 Health Group staff members receive annual training in infection prevention and control. All Staff undertake online training with Teamnet within the first few days of employment.
Policies
All Infection Prevention and Control related policies are in date for this year.
Policies relating to Infection Prevention and Control are available to all staff, are reviewed, and updated bi-annually, and all are amended on an on-going basis as current advice, guidance, and legislation changes. Infection Control policies are circulated amongst staff on our internal staff site on Notion, this demonstrated in monthly meetings to ensure staff are aware of the location of these policies.
Responsibility
It is the responsibility of each individual to be familiar with this Statement and their roles and responsibilities under this.
Review date
October 2024
Responsibility for Review
Maisy Binion is responsible for reviewing and producing the Annual Statement.
Responsibility for Review
The Infection Prevention and Control Lead is responsible for reviewing and producing the Annual Statement
***Last Updated 02/10/23
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