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IPC Annual Statement Report

30th March 2026

Purpose 

This annual statement will be generated each year in March 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 Mendip Vale Medical Group is Katy Connell, Lead Nurse.

The IPC Lead is supported by Jo Clayson and Leigh Vowles, Divisional Directors.

  1. 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 3 significant events raised which related to infection control. There have also been 0 complaints made regarding cleanliness or infection control. 

  1. Infection prevention audit and actions

Internal Audits completed over the previous year:

 

Bi-monthly cleaning audit completed on each site, collaboratively with Surgery Manager and the Manager from the external cleaning company.  The audit will reflect any concerns, which are addressed accordingly with a subsequent audit being completed to confirm standards have improved to the required level.

 

Annual handwashing audit completed by Surgery Managers across all sites, on all staff.  The audit will reflect any concerns, which are addressed accordingly with a subsequent audit being completed to confirm standards have improved to the required level.

 

Annual Infection Control training audit completed by Surgery Managers across all sites.  All non-clinical staff have completed Level 1 Infection Control mandatory learning and all clinical staff have completed Level 2 Infection Control Mandatory learning.

 

The above audits will continue to be monitored at the above frequencies.

  1. 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, Infection Control risk assessments were carried out/reviewed at each site.

These include an assessment of:

  • Cleanliness and Cleaning
  • Environmental Hygiene
  • Washroom facilities
  • Kitchen facilities
  • Clinical Waster
  • Policies and Training
  • Staff Immunisations

This risk assessment will be repeated annually, unless there are any significant changes or areas of concern.

  1. Training

In addition to staff being involved in risk assessments and significant events, at Mendip Vale Medical Group all staff and contractors receive IPC induction training on commencing their post. Thereafter, all staff receive refresher training annually.

  1. 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 Control Policy
  • Cleaning Standards and Schedule Policy

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. 

  1. Responsibility

It is the responsibility of all staff members at Mendip Vale Medical Group to be familiar with this statement and their roles and responsibilities under it. 

  1. Review

The IPC Lead and Divisional Directors are responsible for reviewing and producing the annual statement.

This annual statement will be updated on or before 31st March 2027.

 

Signed by

Katy Connell, Jo Clayson & Leigh Vowles

For and on behalf of Mendip Vale Medical Group

 

Read the IPC Report: IPC Annual Statement Report