We aim to keep our surgery clean and tidy and offer a safe environment to our patients and staff. We are proud of our modern, purpose built Practice and endeavour to keep it clean and well maintained at all times.
If you have any concerns about cleanliness or infection control, please report these to our Reception Team.
Our GPs and nursing staff follow our Infection Control Policy to ensure the care we deliver and the equipment we use is safe.
We take additional measures to ensure we maintain the highest standards:
- Encourage staff and patients to raise any issues or report any incidents relating to cleanliness and infection control. We can discuss these and identify improvements we can make to avoid any future problems.
- Carry out an annual infection control audit to make sure our infection control procedures are working.
- Provide annual staff updates and training on cleanliness and infection control
- Review our policies and procedures to make sure they are adequate and meet national guidance.
- Maintain the premises and equipment to a high standard within the available financial resources and ensure that all reasonable steps are taken to reduce or remove all infection risk.
- Use washable or disposable materials for items such as couch rolls, modesty curtains, floor coverings, towels etc, and ensure that these are laundered, cleaned or changed frequently to minimise risk of infection.
- Make Alcohol Hand Rub Gel available throughout the building
Infection Control Annual Statement 13/09/2026
Purpose
This annual statement will be generated each year in June, 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 Princess Road Surgery is Paula Grogan, Practice Nurse
The IPC lead is supported by Community Health Protection Team.
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 zero significant events raised which related to infection control. There have also been zero complaints made regarding cleanliness or infection control.
b. Infection prevention audit and actions
There have been no requirements needed following the last CQC inspection
There has been 1 external IPC inspections by SMC Cleaning company to review cleaning standards
There has been 1 internal Infection Control Audit and audit reviews will take place monthly
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
- Staff vaccinations & Water safety
In the next year, the following risk assessment will also be reviewed:
As required, all of above or when due
d. Training
In addition to staff being involved in risk assessments and significant events, at Princess Road Surgery, all staff 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:
Via online Portal – Infection Control L1 / L2 as applicable. Any staff who are not up to date are actively monitored.
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:
IPC Policy
Hand Washing audit
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 Princess Road Surgery to be familiar with this statement, and their roles and responsibilities under it.
g. Review
The IPC lead and Chelsey Kent are responsible for reviewing and producing the annual statement.
This annual statement will be updated on or before 13/9/27.
Paula Grogan (IPC Lead)
Chelsey Kent (IPC Admin Lead)
