IPC Annual Statement Report – 08/04/2025
Purpose
This annual statement will be generated each year in April, 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 organisation’s 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 Wellinton Road Surgery is Sister Sophie Ludlow-Rhodes.
The IPC lead is supported by Sister Melanie Cowley.
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 0 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
Wellington Road Surgery plans and conducts cleaning audits based on the cleaning frequencies for the functional risk category.
The use of electronic audit tools are used to ensure compliance against the standard and any negative outcome identified during audit is communicated and actioned.
Audits
Hand Hygiene Audit– Monthly
Cleanliness of the Environment Audit– Monthly/as required
IPC Self-Assessment Audit– Annually
Minor surgery IPC Audit- Annually
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:
- General IPC risks
- Staffing, new joiners and ongoing training
- COSHH
- Cleaning standards
- Privacy curtain cleaning or changes
- Cleaning equipment compliance
- Staff vaccinations
- Water Safety- Legionellosis Management & Control Log-Book
In the next year, the following risk assessments will also be reviewed:
All the above
d. Training
In addition to staff being involved in risk assessments and significant events, at Wellington Road, all staff and contractors receive IPC induction training on commencing their post. Thereafter, all staff receive refresher training annually.
Various elements of IPC training in the previous year have been delivered at the following times: 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:
Safe management of the care environment, waste management, pest control, hand hygiene and outbreaks of communicable disease.
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 Wellington Road Surgery to be familiar with this statement and their roles and responsibilities under it.
g. Review
The IPC lead Sister Sophie Ludlow-Rhodes and Sister Melanie Cowley (IPC ink nurse) are responsible for reviewing and producing the annual statement.
This annual statement will be updated on or before 08/04/26.
Signed by
Sophie Ludlow-Rhodes
For and on behalf of Wellington Road Surgery