Infection prevention and control annual statement report

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We aim to keep our surgery clean and tidy and offer a safe environment to our patients and staff. We are proud of our modern, purpose built Practice and endeavour to keep it clean and well maintained at all times.

If you have any concerns about cleanliness or infection control, please report these to our Reception staff.

Our GPs and nursing staff follow our Infection Control Policy to ensure the care we deliver and the equipment we use is safe.

We take additional measures to ensure we maintain the highest standards:

  • Encourage staff and patients to raise any issues or report any incidents relating to cleanliness and infection control.  We can discuss these and identify improvements we can make to avoid any future problems.
  • Carry out an annual infection control audit to make sure our infection control procedures are working.
  • Provide annual staff updates and training on cleanliness and infection control
  • Review our policies and procedures to make sure they are adequate and meet national guidance.
  • Maintain the premises and equipment to a high standard within the available financial resources and ensure that all reasonable steps are taken to reduce or remove all infection risk.
  • Use washable or disposable materials for items such as couch rolls, modesty curtains, floor coverings, towels etc, and ensure that these are laundered, cleaned or changed frequently to minimise risk of infection.
  • Make Alcohol Hand Rub Gel available throughout the building

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 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 Holland Park Surgery is Janet Ellis – Nurse.

The IPC Lead is supported by Shelley Taylor – Practice Manager.

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 no significant events raised which related to infection control. There have also been no complaints made regarding cleanliness or infection control.

b. Infection prevention audit and actions

Holland Park Surgery completes an Infection Prevention Control (IPC) audit annually, and will complete reviews sooner in the event of any significant events or complaints received which relate to infection control. The last IPC audit was completed on 12th January 2026.

The IPC audit is designed to systematically review and ensure compliance with IPC guidelines, to help minimise infection risks for patients and staff and create action plans for continuous quality improvement.

All staff are expected to promote high standards of IPC to ensure safe, effective care in adherence with IPC guidelines.

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:

d. Training

In addition to staff being involved in risk assessments and significant events, at Holland Park Surgery 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 handbook
  • Clinical waste protocol
  • COSHH policy
  • Hand hygiene policy
  • PPE policy
  • Specimen handling protocol
  • Needlestick injuries 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.

f. Responsibility

It is the responsibility of all staff members at Holland Park Surgery to be familiar with this statement and their roles and responsibilities under it.

g. Review

The IPC lead and the Practice Manager at Holland Park Surgery are responsible for reviewing and producing the annual statement.

This annual statement will be updated on or before 12th January 2027.

Signed by
Janet Ellis - Nurse
Shelley Taylor – Practice Manager
For and on behalf of Holland Park Surgery

Contact

Holland Park Surgery
Lower Ground Floor
Kensington Central Library
12 Phillimore Walk
London
W8 7RX

Telephone: 020 7221 4334

Providing NHS Services

Care Quality Commission
Rating: Good