Background

The Eston Surgery has one lead for Infection, Prevention and Control, our Practice Nurse Andrea Feher, supported by Claire Hutchinson our Practice Manager.

Nurse Andrea Feher keeps updated on infection control and shares necessary information with the team.

Significant Events

In the last year (01/04/2021 – 31/03/2022) there have been no significant events raised that related to infection control.

Audits

An Infection Prevention and Control in General Practice audit was completed by Claire Hutchinson & Andrea Feher. No problems were identified.

We will share information with our patients and will therefore place a copy of this Annual Statement on our practice website and will notify patients of any seasonal outbreaks that they may need to be aware of via posters in the surgery and on our website.

Risk Assessments

Risk assessments are carried out so best practice can be established and then followed.  They have been reviewed regulalry due to Covid-19

Cleaning specifications, frequencies and cleanliness

We have a cleaning specification and frequency policy poster in the waiting room to inform our patients of what they can expect in the way of cleanliness.

We also have a cleaning specification and frequency policy which our cleaners work to. An annual assessment of cleanliness is conducted by the cleaning team and logged. This includes all aspects in the surgery including cleanliness of equipment. The practice cleaning team have been on board with this risk assessment.

No problems were identified in this year’s cleaning audit. New procedures have been put in place to ensure cleaning specifications and frequencies are adequate for a General Practice environment in light of Covid-19.

Staff training

The practice nurse and HCA completed a training course for the prevention of infection and infection control specifically for clinical staff, and refresh by completing the course annually; our admin team have also completed additional training for infection control this year.

All our staff , including admin team are aware of the importance of hand hygiene and infection control, In light of Covid-19  each station has been provided with antibacterial sprays and wipes staff have been provided with hand held alcohol gel and staff have been working safely to ensure that during the lockdown that they are reducing the spread by reducing contact, wearing masks, gloves and relevant PPE for patient contact and keeping distance from each other.

Policies, Procedures and Guidelines

Policies relating to Infection Prevention and Control are normally reviewed and updated annually; during Covid-19 we are reviewing our policies regularly on an on-going basis as current advice, guidance and legislation changes. From Public Health England, the government advice and NHS England.

Changes to ensure we remain open for services during this difficult time include reducing footfall throughout the surgery. 

We are open, we have increased the amount of reception staff manning the phone lines as we have shut the reception desk to reduce contact. 

Should you require a prescription, please put it into our designated box (located outside the surgery) or order on line.

All flu clinics will be held in our waiting room behind privacy screens and marshals will ensure 2 meters between patients for safety.

Appointment times have been increased to allow for more cleaning in between patients

Video, e-consults and telephone appointments will be offered initially until the clinician invites you for face to face appointment where appropriate

Staff are working remotely to reduce contact in the building

All face to face appointments require face covering to be worn (mask or shield) and have a temperature check at the door.

Nursing appointments remain face to face with the exception of COPD and Asthma reviews, which will be done via the telephone, video or e-consult.  Nursing appointments will run longer to allow cleaning in between the appointment.

Claire Hutchinson

Practice Manager

For and on behalf of the Eston Surgery

Next Statement March 2023