Annual Statement Report
Balsall Common and Meriden Group Practice
06.05.2025
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 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 Balsall Common and Meriden Group Practice
is Claire Jones Nurse Practitioner.
The IPC lead is supported by Sophie Rice, Nurse Associate
a. 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 [1] significant events raised which related to
infection control. There have also been [0] complaints made regarding cleanliness or
infection control.
b. Infection prevention Audit and actions
- Internal annual IPC Audit conducted 22.11.2024 and 07.01.2025.
- Monthly cleaning audit
- Sharps audit
- Hand hygiene audit
Actions – maintain high standards of cleanliness
c. 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.
In the last year, the following risk assessments were carried out/reviewed:
A suggested list, but one that is not exhaustive, could contain the following:
- General IPC risks
- Staffing, new joiners and ongoing training
- COSHH
- Cleaning standards
- Privacy curtain cleaning or changes
- Staff vaccinations
- Sharps
- Toys
d. Training
In addition to staff being involved in risk assessments and significant events, at
Balsall Common and Meriden Group Practice, all staff and contractors receive IPC
induction training on commencing their post. Thereafter, all staff receive refresher
training annually.
e. 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:
- Infection Prevention Control (IPC) Handbook
- Cleaning schedules
- Specimen Handling
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.
f. Responsibility
It is the responsibility of all staff members at Balsall Common and Meriden Group
Practice to be familiar with this statement and their roles and responsibilities under it.
g. Review
The IPC team and Practice Manager are responsible for reviewing and producing the
annual statement.
Claire Jones IPC Lead
Sophie Rice Nurse Associate – support IPC lead
Kaylee Swift – Practice Manager
This annual statement will be updated on or before April 2026
Signed by
Claire Jones
For and on behalf of Balsall Common and Meriden Group Practice