This practice is committed to the control of infection within the building and in relation to the clinical procedures carried out within it. This statement has been produced in line with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and details the practice’s compliance with guidelines on infection control and cleanliness between the dates of 01/04/2025 and 31/03/2026.

IPC clinical lead for the practice is Janet Phillips (Registered Nurse)

IPC deputy is Sinead Collins (Service Manager).

Antibiotic and Sepsis lead: Firoz Jetha (Clinical Pharmacist)

This annual statement is generated at the beginning of the financial each year and will summarise, for the past financial year:

• Any infection transmission incidents and actions taken
• Details of IPC audits/risk assessments undertaken and actions taken
• Details of staff training
• Details of IPC advice to patients
• Any review/update of IPC policies and procedures

Incidents

There have been no incidents regarding infection prevention and control.

Staff Training

All staff have been allocated annual IPC training, with a 91% completion rate as of May 2025. This is above the annual target of 90% and higher than the previous completion rate of 78% in 2024. 

IPC issues/updates are discussed regularly throughout the year in clinical/practice meetings.

Staff are encouraged to raise any IPC concerns with any of the managers or IPC lead.

Audits

An external audit was carried out on 13^th September 2024. Harrogate audits have been in place since January 2024 and continue to be completed to the annual programme. All audit reports are available upon request.

Hand Hygiene Audits

Hand Hygiene audits are now completed in April each year or as new clinical members of staff join the surgery. Staff are aware of the importance of hand hygiene in reducing healthcare associated infections.

Waste and Sharps bins Audits

Waste and Sharps Audits is completed by the Estates, Energy & Waste Officer at West Suffolk Foundation Trust and was completed in April 2024.

Cleaning Audits

There is a monthly self-management cleaning audit on all office and clinical spaces. Vertas, the contracted cleaning company, cleans daily.

Cold Chain Review

• Cold Chain Policy is in place
• All nursing relevant staff can order, receipt and care for vaccines
• Vaccines close to expiry are clearly labelled and vaccines continues to be rotated in date order
• Fridge’s temperature readings are recorded by nursing staff from the temperature display linked to internal sensors for clinical fridges (non-clinical fridges taken daily via manual thermometer).
• A medical grade Cold Box is available in the practice in case emergency transfer of vaccinations is required.

Practice Annual IPC Audit

The last Annual IPC Audit was completed in September 2024. Whilst this is an annual Audit, action points arising from this audit are reviewed with the community matron, service manager and IPC team from WSFT and the ICB.

The following improvements were undertaken and are now in place further to these audits:

• The practice publishes an Annual IPC Statement on their website.
• Updated cleaning schedules remain in place
• Clinical sinks have been upgraded to Hygipods
• New building work has included upgrade of several areas to adhere to the required Healthcare cleanliness standards
• Implementation of FR2 audits have been completed by WSFT

Risk Assessments 

Risk assessments are performed on a required basis. Display screen equipment assessment (DSE) for most staff members. A workplace inspection is done on annual basis and a COSHH risk assessment has been carried out.

Legionella and Fire safety management are maintained by the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust with Glemsford staff engagement.

IPC Policy

The IPC Policy has been updated in the 24-25 financial year to include all Harrogate recommendations.