INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL POLICY
Aims in accordance with:
1. Care Quality Commission – OUTCOME 8: CLEANLINESS AND INFECTION CONTROL
“People experience care in a clean environment, and are protected from acquiring infections”.
3. HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE ACT (2008) Code of Practice
“Provide and maintain a clean and appropriate environment in managed premises that facilitates the prevention and control of infections”.
Purpose: Patients have the right to expect that those who provide their care meet appropriate standards of hygiene and follow the correct procedures to minimise the risk of healthcare associated infection. Heart of Bath Medical Partnership is committed to the prevention and control of infection in relation to the patients, staff and members of the public who have contact with the surgery and has adapted its approach in the light of the Covid 19 Pandemic.
Heart of Bath undertakes to maintain its premises, equipment, drugs, procedures, and standards in accordance with Outcome 8 and will undertake to provide facilities and resources to ensure that all reasonable steps are taken to prevent and reduce and control the risk of infection.
Wherever possible or practicable the practice will try to use washable or disposable materials for items such as soft furnishings and consumables, eg.wall coverings, seating materials, bedding, couch rolls, couch curtains, seam free floor coverings etc, and ensure that these are cleaned or changed appropriately to minimise risk of infections.
Designated Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Lead Nurse Sarah Hall.
Infection Prevention and Control lead role will include:
- Attendance at IPC link worker meeting when able or designate another nurse member to attend.
2. Dissemination of information re policies, procedures, and guidance to the staff (evidence of information sharing to be documented in Clinical Supervision mtg minutes).
3. Overseeing the provision of alcohol hand rub and hand wash posters and supplies of single use hand rub and wash in every clinical room, reception, and washrooms as appropriate.
4. Conducting annual IPC risk assessments, audits and the review of Heart of Bath Medical Partnership. Annual IPC statement. Update and review of Heart of Bath Medical Partnership IPC statement to include Audits, actions, risk assessments, and consequential training required.
5. Reporting of findings to GP partners/Practice Manager and deputy and all staff.
6. Staff Training-arrange and conduct IPC training and updates as need arises for example if incident. HR Manager to ensure all staff complete IPC e-learning annually.
7. Conduct new staff induction including HOB Infection control and prevention policy as soon as is convenient, but within one month of start date.
8. Provide and update HR Manager with appropriate policies for Reception Handbook and all staff members.
9. Document any known significant infection transmission and subsequent actions, report and record at Significant Event Meetings
10. Provide a daily and weekly cleaning specification to be followed by the Nursing Team.
11. Health care waste disposal – ensure facilities are available to allow correct segregation of health care waste. Facilities and posters to be clearly labelled, easily accessible and compliant with current policies.
12. Provision of cleaning and decontamination checklists and schedules for clinical rooms. Checklists to record list of equipment to be cleaned, by whom, how frequently and when.
13. Monitoring of cleaning quarterly by Lead Nurse and findings presented/audited to Managers and cleaning company
14. Management and monitoring of any endemic/ outbreak community infection, for eg gastroenteritis or specific patient infection, for eg.MRSA/COVID
Resources:
HOB Waste Management Policy
HOB Refrigerated Drugs Delivery Procedure
HOB Spillage of Body Fluid Policy, high and low risk
HOB Sample Handling policy
HOB Couch Policy
HOB Tourniquet Policy
HOB Decontamination Policy
HOB Isolation Policy
HOB BP Cuff Policy
HOB Sharps Safety and Disposal Policy
HOB Needle Stick Injury Policy
HOB Disposable Instrument Policy
HOB Single Use Instrument Policy
HOB Hand Washing and Hand Rub Policy
HOB Risk Assessment Document
HOB Infectious Disease Notification Policy
HOB Treatment room cleaning Policy
HOB IPC Risk Assessment tool