Purpose
This annual statement will be generated each year in September, 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 organisation’s 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 Huntingdon PCN is Lesley O’Connor Com-munity Matron. The IPC lead is supported by Duncan Blake GP.
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 no significant events raised which related to infection control. There have also been no complaints made regarding cleanliness or infection control.
Infection prevention audit and actions
No external IPC inspections have been carried out
We have introduced keeping a log of daily cleaning of equipment.
To introduce monthly audit of cleansing of community equipment and cleaning of equipment in cars
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.
A suggested list, but one that is not exhaustive, could contain the following:
- General IPC risks
- Staffing, new joiners and ongoing training
- Staff vaccinations
- Sharps
To carry out risk assessment of equipment in cars
Training
In addition to staff being involved in risk assessments and significant events, at Huntingdon PCN all staff and contractors receive IPC induction training on commencing their post. There-after, all staff receive refresher training.
Various elements of IPC training in the previous year have been delivered at the following times: During induction
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:
- Venepuncture
- Safe Management of Care Equipment July 2021
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 Huntingdon PCN to be familiar with this statement and their roles and responsibilities under it.
Review
The IPC lead, Lesley O’Connor, is responsible for reviewing and producing the annual statement.
This annual statement will be updated on or before September 2026
Signed by
Lesley O’Connor
For and on behalf of Huntingdon PCN
19/09/25