Infection Prevention & Control

Infection Prevention and Control Annual Statement Report
Oakley Health, July 2023 
 

Purpose   
This annual statement will be generated each year in July, 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) lead 
The lead for infection prevention and control at the Oakley Health  Group is Sister Jean Parsons, Practice Nurse .   
The IPC lead is supported by Melanie Bott (Nurse Manager).

  
a. 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 3 significant events raised which related to infection control. There have also been 0 complaints made regarding cleanliness or infection control.   

b. Infection prevention audit and actions  
Infection Control Audits have been undertaken in the last 12 months, by Sister Jean Parsons. 

A number of areas were identified as needing improvements. 
• Ensuring black and yellow bins in all clinical areas 
• Wall repairs required in Rooms 11 and 12 Yateley Medical Centre, Room 1 Hartley Corner 
• Coloured sharps bins not being used for correct type of sharps 
• Leaking tap in Room 1 Hartley Corner 
 

Annual audits take place where activity and procedure are looked at for 
• Personal Protective Equipment usage 
• Clinical Room suitability and cleanliness 
• Privacy Curtains 
• Sharps Handling 
• Specimen Handling 
• Medical Devices including Spirometry decontamination 
• Waste Handling and Disposal 
• Vaccination site audit 

c. 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:  
• Legionella/ water safety 
• Privacy curtains in clinicians rooms (policy updated) 
• Staff Vaccinations 
• COSHH 
• Staffing, new joiners and ongoing training 

d. Training  
In addition to staff being involved in risk assessments and significant events, at the Oakley Health Group, all staff and contractors receive IPC induction training on commencing their post. Thereafter, all staff receive refresher training annually. 

e. 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, to:  
• Infection Prevention and Control Handbook 
• COSHH 
• Safe water 
• Waste management 
• Cold chain

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. 

  
f. Responsibility
It is the responsibility of all staff members at the Oakley Health Group to be familiar with this statement, and their roles and responsibilities under it.   

g. Review  
The IPC lead and Nurse Manager are responsible for reviewing and producing the annual statement. 

This annual statement will be updated on or before 31st July 2024 

Signed by  
 

Melanie Bott

Nurse Manager 
For and on behalf of Oakley Health Group