Infection Control Annual Statement

Infection Prevention and Control lead 
The designated IPC lead for the Practice is: 
Alice Hamer (Practice Nurse)
Sian Miller (Health, Safety & Facilities Officer)

Infection Control Policies
The practice maintains a comprehensive suite of IPC policies, which are reviewed annually and updated in line with current guidance. These include:

    • Hand hygiene
    • Use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
    • Cleaning and decontamination
    • Safe handling and disposal of clinical waste
    • Sharps safety
    • Management of blood and body fluid spillage
    • Infection control for specific diseases (e.g., respiratory infections)

All policies are accessible to staff and are regularly reviewed

Staff Training
All staff receive appropriate IPC training relevant to their role. This includes:

    • Induction training for new staff
    •  Annual refresher training
    •  Updates in response to new guidance or emerging risks

Training records are maintained and monitored to ensure compliance

Infection Control Audits
Regular audits are undertaken to monitor compliance and identify areas for improvement. These include:

    • Hand hygiene audits
    • Cleaning audits
    • Waste management audits
    • IPC environmental audits
    • Antimicrobial prescribing audits

Audit findings are reviewed, and action plans are implemented where necessary

Cleaning and Environmental Hygiene
The practice ensures a clean and safe environment through:
• Daily cleaning schedules
• Use of appropriate disinfectants
• Clear allocation of cleaning responsibilities
• Regular monitoring of cleaning standards
Clinical areas are cleaned in accordance with national standards.
Clinical Waste Management
The practice complies with regulations for the safe handling and disposal of healthcare waste. This includes:
• Segregation of waste streams
• Use of appropriate containers (e.g., sharps bins)
• Collection by a licensed waste contractor


Antimicrobial Stewardship
The practice is committed to responsible antimicrobial prescribing to reduce antimicrobial resistance and ensure optimal patient outcomes.
We support antimicrobial stewardship through:
• Adherence to local and national prescribing guidelines (e.g., NICE guidance)
• Antimicrobial prescribing audits and benchmarking
• Regular review of antibiotic prescribing data
• Use of delayed/back-up prescriptions where clinically appropriate
• Patient education on the appropriate use of antibiotics and self-care for minor illnesses
• Promotion of non-antibiotic management where suitable
The practice works collaboratively with local prescribing teams and public health bodies to ensure best practice is maintained.


Significant Events & Incidents
Significant events (which may involve examples of good practice as well as challenging events) are investigated in detail to see what can be learnt and to indicate changes that might lead to future improvements. All significant events are reviewed in the Partner meetings and learning is cascaded to all relevant staff.

During this reporting period: 1 incident 
Number of reported IPC incidents: 1 incident 
Summary of actions taken:  

Information was promptly communicated to all relevant staff via email and telephone. This included details of the incident, key learning points, and guidance on symptoms to monitor in case of possible exposure to invasive Group A Streptococcus (iGAS). Policies and procedures were reviewed and updated by the infection control team to ensure appropriate management should a similar incident occur in the future.

Immunisation & Occupational Health
Staff are encouraged to maintain up-to-date immunisations in line with national recommendations (e.g., influenza, hepatitis B). Occupational health support is available where required. 

Patient Involvement
Patients are encouraged to support infection prevention by:

    • Using hand sanitiser
    • Following respiratory hygiene guidance
    • Adhering to practice policies when unwell

Information is available within the practice and on our website

Responsibility 
It is the responsibility of each individual to be familiar with this Statement and their roles and responsibilities under this.
Review: April 2027 

The Infection Prevention and Control Lead is responsible for reviewing and producing the Annual Statement.
Infection Control Lead: Alice Hamer – Practice Nurse. For and on behalf of the Pioneer Medical Group

Signed: Alice Hamer 
Practice Nurse 
8th April 2026