Infection Control Annual Statement Report.

The Orchard Surgery

Updated: Oct 2025

Purpose:

This annual statement will be generated each year 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 The Orchard Surgery is Collette Joyce, Senior Practice Nurse with support from Dr Lionel Mendes, Senior Partner and Annette Lidbetter, Practice Manager.

Infection transmission incidents (Significant Events)

Significant events involve examples of good practice as well as challenging events.

Positive events are discussed at meetings and shared with the practice team 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 at meetings each month. Any learning points are cascaded to all relevant staff where an action plan, including audits or policy review, may follow.

As a result of these events, The Orchard Surgery has:

• Continued with an infection control update for both clinical and non-clinical staff.
• Ensured infection Control Guidance remains accessible to all staff. 

Infection prevention audit and actions

The Orchard Surgery completes an Infection Control Audit Annually or sooner in the event of any Significant events or changes to current practice or premises.

A cold chain audit is completed annually or sooner in the event of any significant events or changes to current practice. 

Risk assessments

Risk assessments are carried out so that any risk is minimised to be as low as 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 – annually or sooner in the event of any significant events or changes to current practice
• COSHH –- annually
• Cleaning standards – weekly / monthly / annually
• Water Quality Testing – 6 monthly
• Cold Chain Audit – annually
• Emergency Drug Risk Assessment – annually
• Vaccine Storage Audit - annually 

In the next year, the following risk assessment will also be reviewed:

• General IPC risks
• COSHH
• Cleaning standards
• Premises Inspections
• Legionella Risk Assessment
• Water Quality Testing
• Cold Chain Audit
• Emergency Drug Risk Assessment.

Training

Our staff receive mandatory IPC annual training via online learning on Practice Index as well as any relevant updates at nurse meetings. All training is logged on personnel files and ICP is part of all new staff inductions.

Hand Hygiene training carried out individually to staff by IPC lead. Audits carried out annually by our Lead IPC Nurse during October 2025. 

Policies and procedures

All Infection Prevention and Control related policies are in date for this year.

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 The Orchard Surgery to be familiar with this statement and their roles and responsibilities under it. 

Review

The IPC lead and the Practice Manager are responsible for reviewing and producing the annual statement.

This annual statement will be updated on or before October 2026

Signed by:

Collette Joyce – IPC Lead

Dr Lionel Mendes – Senior Partner

Annette Lidbetter – Practice Manager

For and on behalf of The Orchard Surgery