Infection Control

Infection Control Annual Statement

1 October 2025

Purpose

This annual statement will be generated each year in September 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 undertaken, 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 Putneymead Group Medical Practice is Jodie O’Regan.

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 of 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 that 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 in 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 no significant event raised that related to infection control. There have also been nil complaints made regarding cleanliness or infection control.

Infection prevention audit and actions

• Annual internal infection control at Putneymead – due again 1 November 2025
• Annual internal infection control audit at Student Medical Centre – due again 1 November 2025

Risk Assessments

Risk assessments are carried out so that any risk is minimised to be as low as reasonably practicable. Additionally, a risk assessment which can identify best practice can be established and then followed.

In the last year the following risk assessments were carried out/reviewed:

• Review of PPE in light of measles and MPox outbreaks.
• Curtain changes – annually for clinical rooms, 6 monthly for treatment rooms
• Ongoing IPC training

Training

In addition to staff being involved in risk assessments and significant events, at Putneymead Group Medical Practice 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 which have been written, updated or reviewed in the last year include, but are not limited, to:

• Cleaning and Decontamination of Surfaces Protocol
• Clinical Waste Management Protocol
• COSHH policy
• IPC staff induction guidelines
• Immunisation of Healthcare staff
• Infection Control Policy 2025 ( last updated 1 October 2025)

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 Putneymead Group Medical Practice to be familiar with this statement and their roles and responsibilities under it.

Review

The IPC Lead and Facilities Lead are responsible for reviewing and producing the annual statement.

This annual statement will be updated on or before 30 August 2026.

Signed by:

Jodie O'Regan
For and on behalf of Putneymead Group Medical Practice