July 2024 – July 2025
Introduction
Bilsthorpe Surgery is committed to ensuring the health and safety of our patients, staff, and visitors by maintaining high standards of infection prevention and control (IPC). This annual statement provides an overview of the measures we have implemented over the past year to minimise the risk of infection and outlines our plans to continually improve our surgery.
Infection Prevention and Control Team
The IPC team at Bilsthorpe Surgery consists of the following members:
– Jo Beevers, Lead Infection Prevention and Control Practitioner
– Leah Robinson, GP Partner responsible for IPC
– Jessica Morris, Practice Manager
The team meets quarterly to review and update IPC policies, procedures, and protocols.
Policies and Procedures
We have reviewed and updated our IPC policies and procedures in line with current guidelines from Public Health England (PHE) and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Key policies reviewed this year include:
– Hand Hygiene Policy
– Cleaning and Disinfection Policy
– Waste Management Policy
– Sharps Injury Protocol
– Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Policy
Audits
Audits are carried out by our Lead Infection Prevention and Control Practitioner quarterly. These have been adjusted recently to ensure the cleaning of the practice is remaining at a high standard.
An external audit was carried out in June 2024, the following improvements were undertaken and are now in place;
- Annual IPC statement.
- Internal audits to include cleaning checks.
- Cleaning schedule updated.
- Soap dispensers replaced with single cartridge dispensers.
- Risk assessments updated
Staff training
All staff complete their infection prevention and control training annually. This includes an annual in-house hand hygiene practical session. Staff are all encouraged to raise any IPC concerns with the management team or the IPC lead.
Risk Assessments
Risk assessments are carried out on a required basis. These include health and safety, fire safety, patient safety, premises, COSHH and many more.