July 2025
Purpose
This annual statement will be generated each year in June, 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 be published on the practice website and 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 carried out, 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 and Control (IPC)
The IPC leads at Grove House Surgery & Chickenley Medical Centre are:
GP Lead: Dr Chantel Ratcliffe
Clinical Lead: Karen Lewis (Health Care Assistant) overseen by Laura Marsden (Lead Practice Nurse)
Premises Lead: Dawn Beadle
- 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 in 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 which 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 at several meetings each month. 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 0 significant events raised which related to infection control. There have also been 0 complaints made regarding cleanliness or infection control.
- Infection prevention audit and actions
A recent infection control audit (July 2025) was undertaken by K Lewis. Infection control continues to be monitored and maintained by the nursing team to a high standard. New laminated signage was replaced to identify correct waste disposal for sharps and bins. Rooms were de-cluttered in clinical rooms. Labels with open dates are on now on hand sanitisers in line with infection control inspection in December 2023. Nurses maintain uniform in line with practice policy.
A hand washing audit was also undertaken alongside the infection control by K Lewis. 10 members of clinical staff were audited. A reminder was given to clinical staff to maintain bare below the elbow when in clinical settings.
The practice 10-year plan to improve the building in line with infection control recommendations is ongoing.
- Risk assessments
Risk assessments are carried out so that any risk is minimised and made to be as low as is 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:
- General IPC risks
- Cleaning standards
- Privacy curtain cleaning or changes
- Sharps
- Water safety
- Training
In addition to staff being involved in risk assessments and significant events, at Grove House Surgery & Chickenley Medical Centre, all staff and contractors receive IPC induction training on commencing their post. Thereafter, all staff receive refresher training annually.
- Policies and procedures
The infection prevention and control-related policies and procedures that have been written, updated, or reviewed in the last year include, but are not limited.
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.
- Responsibility
It is the responsibility of all staff members at Grove House Surgery & Chickenley Medical Centre to be familiar with this statement, and their roles and responsibilities under it.
- Review
The IPC lead, Karen Lewis overseen by Laura Marsden is responsible for reviewing and producing the annual statement.
This annual statement will be updated on or before July 2026.
Signed by
Karen Lewis & Laura Marsden
For and on behalf of Grove House Surgery & Chickenley Medical Centre