Last updated: April 2025
At The Limes Surgery, keeping our patients, visitors and staff safe from infection is a top priority. We follow strict standards in line with national infection control guidance and the Health and Social Care Act 2008.
This page summarises the steps we take each year to maintain high standards of cleanliness and infection prevention.
✅ Our Infection Control Leads
- Lisa Rolfe – Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) Lead Nurse
- Catherine Jennings – Practice Manager (IPC Support Lead)
They oversee all infection control activity, audits, staff training and policy updates within the practice.
🧼 How We Keep the Surgery Safe
Each year we:
- Carry out a full infection control audit and take action where needed
- Review risk assessments (e.g. equipment, water safety, sharps, cleaning standards)
- Monitor and learn from any infection-related incidents
- Ensure all staff receive annual infection control training
- Review and update all infection control policies and procedures
📊 Infection Control Events in the Last 12 Months
- 0 incidents relating to infection control were reported
- 0 complaints were received about cleanliness or infection control
We regularly review what is working well and where improvements can be made.
🧪 Staff Training & Best Practice
- All new staff receive infection control training when they start
- All team members complete refresher training every year
- Our IPC Lead attends bi-monthly NHS ICB webinars to keep up to date with latest guidance
🛠 Policies We Review Regularly
Some of the policies reviewed and updated this year include:
- Hand hygiene & PPE
- Cleaning & waste management
- Sharps and specimen handling
- Communicable diseases
- Spillages, safe handling and uniform standards
- Legionella & water safety
- Incident reporting and health & safety
🧽 What This Means for You as a Patient
When you visit The Limes Surgery, you can expect:
- Clean and hygienic clinical areas
- Staff trained in infection prevention and safe practice
- Clear safety procedures for equipment and waste
- Support to follow good hygiene (e.g. hand gel, mask guidance if required)
- Prompt action if any concerns are raised
🔄 Next Review
This statement will be reviewed and updated by April 2026.
If you have any concerns about infection prevention or cleanliness within the surgery, please speak to a member of staff or contact the Practice Manager.