WIDDRINGTON MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS
VERSION 2
Widdrington Surgery
Infection Control Policy
Introduction
This document sets out the surgery policy on infection control and should be used with reference to the principles
outlined in the Infection Control (biological substances) Protocol and the Infection Control Inspection Checklist
Policy Statement
This practice is committed to the control of infection within the building and in relation to the clinical procedures
carried out within it.
The practice will undertake to maintain the premises, equipment, drugs and procedures to the standards detailed
within the Checklist and will undertake to provide facilities and the financial resources to ensure that all reasonable
steps are taken to reduce or remove all infection risk.
Wherever possible or practicable the practice will seek to use washable or disposable materials for items such as
soft furnishings and consumables, e.g. seating materials, wall coverings including paint, bedding, couch rolls,
modesty sheets, bed curtains, floor coverings, towels etc, and ensure that these are laundered, cleaned or
changed frequently to minimise risk of infection.
The clinician responsible for Infection Control is
The nurse lead for Infection Control is
The non-clinician responsible for Infection Control is
The Pharmacy/dispensary lead for infection control is
The lead cleaner responsible for Infection Control is
Dr Y Lees
Christine Jones
Jackie Smith
Mark Dawson
Karen Thompson
Dr Lees will check all new supplies and building maintenance conforms to IPC policy and provide clinical
guidance for IPC policy review and updates. .
Christine Jones will conduct induction IPC training for all new staff, audit IPC policy and provide IPC
clinical support for staff.
Jackie Smith will ensure compliance with IPC policy and provide training schedules for staff.
Mark Dawson will audit IPC policy in the dispensary/ pharmacy
Meryel Woods will be responsible for the maintenance of personal protective equipment and the provision
of personal cleaning supplies within clinical areas
Meryel Woods will be responsible for the maintenance of the provision of personal cleaning supplies
within non-clinical areas
Meryel Woods will be responsible for the maintenance of sterile equipment and supplies, and for ensuring
that all items remain “in date”
The following general precautions will apply:
A daily, weekly, monthly and 6 monthly cleaning specification will apply and will be followed by the cleaning staff.
See Cleaning – Service Level Agreement
Infection Control training will take place for all staff on an annual basis and will include training on hand
decontamination, hand washing procedures, sterilisation procedures the use of Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE) and the safe used and disposal of sharps. See Handwashing Guidelines
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Infection Control Training will take place for all new recruits within 4 weeks of start. See IPC staff induction
Guidelines
A Hand washing poster will be displayed In the Dirty Utility Room.
The practice will ensure that all staff have access to sufficient and appropriate supplies of materials for hand
decontamination, PPE and sharps containers.
A random and unannounced Inspection Control Inspection, using the Checklist, will take place on an annual basis
and the findings will be reported to the partners’ meeting for (any) remedial action.
Staff must ensure they are familiar with IPC policy and know who to ask if they are unsure or have
concerns
Staff must report infectious illness to the IPC lead or in their absence one of the IPC team
The Practice will also seek to educate patients and carers regarding effective hand decontamination and
hand washing techniques
See also:
Blood and blood stained body fluids protocol and Urine and Vomit spillage protocol.
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Appendix 1
Six Step Handwashing Technique
1
2
3
Right palm over back of left hand
then left palm over back of right
hand
Palm to palm
4
5
Backs of fingers to
opposing palms with
fingers interlocked
Rotational rubbing of right
thumb clasped in left palm and
vice versa
Palm to palm
fingers interlaced
6
Rotational rubbing, backwards
and forwards with clasped
fingers of right hand in left
palm and vice versa
Should supplies of liquid soap or paper towels be needed
please contact Reception
Appendix 2
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WIDDRINGTON MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS
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IPC Staff induction guidelines
As part of the Widdrington Surgery induction process for new staff, the Practice Nurse will instruct new employees
on the infection control policies and protocols utilised by the Practice.
The Practice Nurse will review, with the new employee, the following protocols:

Hand Hygiene
o Practice Nurse to demonstrate handwashing technique

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
o Practice Nurse to demonstrate use of PPE

Handling and Disposal of Sharps
o Practice Nurse to demonstrate handling of sharps
o Practice Nurse to demonstrate construction, labelling, and disposal of sharps bins

Decontamination of equipment
o Practice Nurse to demonstrate the safe use of any decontamination equipment as appropriate

Management of blood/body fluid & urine and vomit spillage
o Practice Nurse to instruct new staff on the protocol for spillage management

Waste
o Practice Nurse to explain waste categories and disposal

Specimen handling
o Practice Nurse to discuss and demonstrate protocols for specimen handling
The Practice Nurse will sign off the infection control induction checklist and pass to the Practice Secretary to be
included in the staff personnel file.
The infection control induction checklist must be completed within 1 week of new staff commencing employment at
Widdrington Surgery.
In the event that the Practice Nurse is unavailable, trained staff members may instruct new staff if approved by the
Infection Control Lead GP.
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WIDDRINGTON MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS
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Infection Control Induction Checklist
Subject
Date
Signature
Hand Hygiene
PPE
Sharps Handling
Sharps Bins
Decontamination
Spillage Management
Waste
Specimen Handling
Induction Checklist completed on:
Signed:
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WIDDRINGTON MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS
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Appendix 3
List of Medical Equipment that has to be cleaned on a daily basis at the end of a clinic
1. Blood Pressure Omron’s
2. Blood Pressure Cuffs
3. Pulse Oximeters Oxygen Probes
4. Stethoscopes
5. Wall mounted sphygmomanometers
6. Spirometer hand held (In Practice Nurse Room)
7. PEFR hand held Meters
8. Ophthalmoscope/Otoscope
9. Ear Irrigation Machine (See Protocol Cleaning of Ear Irrigation)
10. Examination Lights
11. Tourniquets
12. Diathermy (In GP Treatment Room)
13. Blood Glucose Metres are not kept in consulting rooms. They are single use only so do not require
cleaning (See Protocol Blood Glucose Metre)
Blood Glucose Meter Device
(Used within Widdrington Surgery)
All the blood glucose meter devices which are used within Widdrington Surgery by clinical staff are single use
only (see single use marker- appendix 5). We keep a supply in the Pharmacy department within the surgery.
During any consultation if a blood glucose meter is used to measure the blood glucose level from a patient
(finger prick test) the device will always be single use only and discarded after each test and a new one is
obtained from the pharmacy department.
There is a blood glucose meter device within the emergency drug box in the reception area, if this is used the
person responsible for using the meter is the person responsible for replacing the meter within the emergency
drug box.
All GP and Nurse Rooms do not keep a blood glucose meter as stock to prevent risk of them being used more
than once.
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WIDDRINGTON MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS
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If a GP or Nurse requires a Blood Glucose Metre urgently, there is a one kept in the emergency drug box and if
the blood glucose meter is used in an emergency there is a supply.
1. Dermatoscope cleaned with alcohol rub after each patient contact, and wiped at the end of a session
2. Patella Hammer
3. Tuning fork
Cleaning of Medical Equipment
1) In all GP Consulting rooms, Practice Nurse and Nurse Treatment/GP Treatment rooms, the Medical
Equipment used during consultations will always be cleaned at the end of the sessions but the Clinician.
2) If the equipment does become soiled or stained after patient use, this would be cleaned immediately.
3) Clinell Wipes are kept in all consulting rooms, these are used for cleaning of Medical Equipment
4) If stains persist and is not removed with the Clinell wipes the equipment should be given to the practice
nurse to be washed with hot soap and water.
5) If stains are not removed by these 2 methods of cleaning then the Practice Manager would be informed.
The equipment would need to be discarded and new Medical Equipment ordered.
Appendix 4
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WIDDRINGTON MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS
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Cleaning Signing off Sheet
Week Commencing
SITE: Widdrington Clinic, Grange Road, Widdrington
Tick when work complete

Daily
Weekly
1-Entrance and Reception Area
Main Entrance Door – spot clean
Lobby, reception, waiting room (refer to Area 4)
Floor – sweep, vacuum and mop in entirety
Radiators
Toys in children’s play area (wooden and plastic) – damp wipe
2-Waste Paper Bins/Clinical Waste Bins
Empty & remove rubbish to receptacle provided
Empty clinical waste bins
Damp wipe inside & outside
3-Internal doors and partitions
Spot clean doors and frames
Clean glass vision panels
4-Offices
Chairs – damp wipe
Desks – damp wipe desk tops
Office equipment – including keyboards, printers, monitors, cabinets ,shelving and fans – to
be damp wiped
Telephones – clean & sanitise
Light switches & door handles – clean & sanitise
Surfaces to 6 feet – damp wipe all horizontal surfaces including skirting, window ledges,
socket boards and radiators, etc.
Floor – sweep, vacuum and mop in entirety
Floor – sweep/vacuum and mop in traffic lanes only
Radiators
5-Consulting/Treatment Rooms
Examination beds including curtain rails – damp wipe/dust
Examination lamps – damp wipe
Hand basins and work surfaces – clean and sanitise
Chairs – vacuum or damp wipe
Desks – damp wipe
Office equipment – damp wipe (refer to Area 4)
Window ledges – damp wipe
Telephones – clean and sanitise
Light switches and door handles – clean and sanitise
Surfaces to 6 ft. – damp wipe all horizontal surfaces including skirtings, socket boards,
radiators, etc.
Floor – sweep, vacuum and mop in entirety
Radiators
Toys in children’s play area (wooden and plastic) – damp wipe
6-Staircase – Vacuum and mop, damp wipe handrails, etc.
Lift – clean doors and interior
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Monthly
WIDDRINGTON MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS
VERSION 2
SITE: Widdrington Clinic, Grange Road, Widdrington
Tick when work complete

Daily
Weekly
7-Toilets
Vitreous fixtures – clean and sanitise toilet bowls & seats, urinals, hand basins, splash
backs, etc.
Mirrors and glass – clean and sanitise
Chrome/stainless steel fittings – clean and sanitise
Floor – vacuum or sweep, mop and sanitise
Surfaces to3 ft. – clean and sanitise, skirting, sills, ducts, ledges, shelves, radiators, etc.
Surfaces above 3ft – clean all ledges, door tops, etc.
Light switches and door handles – clean and sanitise
Doors and frames – spot clean
Baby changing facilities – clean and sanitise
Radiators
8–Staff room
Tables – damp wipe and sanitise
Chairs – damp wipe and sanitise
Work surfaces and sink area – clean and sanitise
Surfaces to 3ft – clean and sanitise, skirting, sills, ducts, ledges, shelves, etc.
Cupboards – clean outside
Cupboards – clean inside
Floor – vacuum or sweep, mop and sanitise
Radiators
10–Appliances
Refrigerator – clean inside
Refrigerator – clean outside
Microwave - clean inside
Microwave - clean outside
11-Blinds – dust/damp wipe
12-Pictures, wall decorations and notice boards
Operative signature:
Operative signature:
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Monthly
WIDDRINGTON MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS
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Appendix 5
Introduction
This guidance has been developed to draw attention to the risks associated with the reuse or reprocessing
(cleaning and reuse) of single-use medical devices.
The reuse of single-use devices could expose both patient and users to risk.
This is the primary consideration and outweighs any perceived economic or environmental benefits of reusing a
single-use device.
In addition, users who reprocess or re-use single-use equipment may be placing themselves, and their
organisation, at risk of litigation.
The guidance outlines what single-use is, risks associated with reuse and legal considerations of reuse and
reprocessing.
Definition of Single-Use
Single-use means any medical device that is intended to be used on an individual person during a single
procedure and then should be disposed of appropriately.
A single-use device is NOT intended to be re-used or reprocessed for another procedure, even if that procedure is
on the same patient.
The symbol below indicates single-use only and is used on packaging to indicate the item is for single-use only.
Safety Issues
Any re-use or reprocessing may affect the safety, performance and effectiveness of the device.
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