Infection Control Annual Statement

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. It summarises:

• 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 prevention and control of infection
• Details of staff training 
• Any review and update of policies, procedures and guidelines 

Infection prevention and control (IPC) lead

Southampton Sea City Partnership has one Lead for Infection Prevention and Control: Emma Lambert Deputy Practice Nurse. 

The IPC Lead is supported by: Lisa Sheppard, Lead Nurse and Angela Bailey, Quality and Compliance Manager.

The IPC lead will attend an IPC Lead training course by August 2026 as this is a new role and will keep updated on infection prevention practice.

Infection transmission incidents (significant events)

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 Quarterly significant event meetings, and learning is cascaded to all relevant staff. Smaller meetings are held as needed when the event occurs.

In the past year, there have been two significant events related to infection control. Learning from these events included:

• iGas
• Needlestick Injury

As a result of these events, Southampton Sea City Partnership has changed:

• New coding in place for iGas to highlight diagnosis for clinicians and to enable relevant searches for contacts. 
• Review of IPC and needlestick injury policies and ensure all staff know where the policies are kept post organizational merge. 

Infection prevention audit and actions

The Annual Infection Prevention and Control audit was completed in August 2025 and is due in August 2026.

As a result of the audit, we are working to ensure all clinical rooms are compliant with infection prevention and control standards and guidelines. All infection prevention and control policies are currently being reviewed and updated. 

An audit on hand washing will be undertaken in September 2026.  Findings will be discussed at team meetings. 

Sea City Partnership plan to undertake the following audits in 2026:

• Annual Infection Prevention and Control audit
• Minor surgery outcomes audit
• Domestic cleaning audit
• Hand hygiene audit
• Cold chain audit
• Vaccine audit
• Sharps bin audit
• Clinical room audit

Risk assessments 

Risk assessments are carried out so that best practice can be established and then followed. In the last year the following risk assessments were carried out / reviewed:

Legionella (water) risk assessment

The practice has conducted/reviewed its water safety risk assessment to ensure that the water supply does not pose a risk to patients, visitors or staff.

Immunisation

As a practice we ensure that all of our staff are up to date with their Hepatitis B immunisations and offered any occupational health vaccinations applicable to their role (i.e. MMR, Seasonal Flu, COVID). We take part in the National Immunisation campaigns for patients and offer vaccinations in house and via home visits to our patient population.

Cleaning specifications, frequencies and cleanliness

We have added 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 and staff work to. An assessment of cleanliness is conducted and logged. This includes all aspects in the surgery including cleanliness of equipment. Regular correspondence and feedback with cleaning team about concerns raised in cleanliness audits. 

Hand washing sinks

The practice has clinical hand washing sinks in every room for staff to use. Some of our sinks do not meet the latest standards for sinks but we have removed plugs, covered overflows and reminded staff to turn of taps that are not ‘hands free’ with paper towels to keep patients safe. We have also replaced our liquid soap with wall mounted soap dispensers to ensure cleanliness.

Training

All our staff receive annual training in infection prevention and control.

All clinical staff must complete level 2 infection prevention and control training as e-learning modules.

All non-clinical staff must complete level 1 infection prevention and control training as e-learning modules.

HR and Estates manager has undertaken specialist training in water safety, including legionella awareness. 

Ad-hoc training may occur at TARGET or learning from significant events at the clinical teaching sessions. 

Policies

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

The following policies are currently being updated:

• Infection Prevention and Control, and associated policies
• Cold Chain 

Policies relating to Infection Prevention and Control are available to all staff and are reviewed and updated annually, and all are amended on an on-going basis as current advice, guidance and legislation changes. Infection Control policies are circulated amongst staff for reading and discussed at meetings on an annual basis. 

Responsibility

It is the responsibility of each individual to be familiar with this Statement and their roles and responsibilities under this. 

Review date

1st May 2027

Responsibility for review

The Infection Prevention and Control Lead and the Quality and Compliance Manager are responsible for reviewing and producing the Annual Statement.

• Angela Bailey - Quality and Compliance Manager 
• Lisa Sheppard - Lead Nurse

For and on behalf of the Southampton Sea City Partnership

CQC myth buster guidance 

• GP mythbusters: Full list of tips and mythbusters 
• GP mythbuster 99: Infection prevention and control in General Practice