Purpose:
This annual statement will be generated at the culmination of 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 Priors Field Surgery Lead for Infection Prevention and Control is Carly Loop (Clinical Nurse Manager). The Infection Prevention Control Lead is supported by Rebecca Taylor (Practice Operations Manager).
Annual infection control training is a mandatory requirement for all surgery staff. Carly Loop last updated her infection control training on 27/01/2025 and attended off site ICB wide training on 05.03.2025.
Known learning events related to IPC during 2024
Learning 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 learning events are reviewed annually during staff clinical governance training. Significant events (where actual harm is identified to have been caused) are investigated in the same manner.
In the past year there has been 0 learning or significant events documented that related to infection control at Priors Field Surgery.
Infection Prevention Audit and Actions
During 2024 Priors Field was under the management of Malling Health.
Under the new management of St Mary’s Surgery, Priors Field Surgery plan the following IPC related audits for 2025:-
Annual Infection Prevention and Control audit
Quarterly handwashing audits
Quarterly Cytology audits
Weekly cleaning inspections
Randomised clinical room inspections
Monthly rotations of clinical supplies (store rooms and clinical rooms)
Pre Acceptance waste Audit (through Anenta)
Duty of Care Waste Audit (through Anenta)
Risk Assessments:
Risk assessments are carried out so that best practice can be established and then followed. In the coming year, the following risk assessments will be carried out / reviewed: –
Legionella (Water) Risk Assessment: – Priors Field is under the professional management of Aquacert. Annual testing in contracted. Reports are kept with the practice manager.
Immunisation: – St Mary’s Surgery ensures that our staff clinical staff are up to date with their Hepatitis B immunisations. All Priors Field surgery staff are offered annual influenza vaccination and any COVID 19 vaccinations as recommended by the UK Government.
Clinical Waste: Our clinical waste collections are overseen by Anenta who direct Miete with regards to the collection of both bagged waste and sharps containers.
Covid19: – The national guidance that has required the continued wearing of face masks and face coverings across health and social care settings was withdrawn on Tuesday 16 May 2023. Our staff are still asked to wear facemasks to offer protection to our patients if and when exhibiting any signs/symptoms of a respiratory tract infection. Patients are encouraged but not mandated to wear facemasks in the same circumstances. Masks and alcohol based hand gel are readily accessible in the waiting area and all clinical rooms. PPE is procured from our private suppliers and these provisions include gloves, aprons, masks, alcohol based hand gel and, where indicated, face shields and full body gowns.
Cleaning of the premises:
The surgery is cleaned by prior to the commencement of each working day. Clinical staff are responsible for cleaning their own working areas between patient interactions during their working day.
Training:
Annual Infection control training is a mandatory requirement for all surgery staff. Our current compliance rate for all staff to be up to date with their training is 33%. This figure represents training completed between 1 April 2025 and 30 June 2025
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.
Annual review completion date:
June 2025
Next review date:
January 2026 (for the 2025 year)
Responsibility for review:
The Infection Prevention and Control Lead is responsible for reviewing and producing Priors Field Surgery’s Annual Statement.