• the creation and maintenance of a pseudonymised GP dataset (only coded patient data), held within Optum/TPP [delete as appropriate], made available to NHS England–approved studies via the OpenSAFELY platform
• the GP data remains under practice control and is retained for the duration of the DPN, with only study-specific cohorts and results transferring to NHS England control
• the DPN establishes a legal obligation (UK GDPR Article 6(1)(c)) on practices, with purposes and safeguards set out in the DPN

For more information on the OpenSAFELY service, please click the following link:

• OpenSAFELY Information Leaflet

Infection Control Annual Statement 2022-23

The annual statement will be generated annually in March. It will summarise:

• Any infection transmission incidents and any action taken (These will be reported in accordance with our Significant Events Procedure,
• Details of any infection control audits undertaken and actions undertaken
• Details of any control risk assessments undertaken
• Details of staff training

• Any review and update policies and procedures and guidelines

 

Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Lead

The Infection prevention and control Lead is Carol Dark – practice nurse

Dr Marc Duffield – GP Partner, supports the IPC Lead,

Significant events

Infection transmission incidents (Significant Events)

Significant events (which may involve examples of good practice as well as challenging events) are investigated in detail to see what can be learnt and to indicate changes that might lead to future improvements. All significant events are reviewed in the monthly staff meetings and learning is cascaded to all relevant staff.

In the past year there have been no significant events relating to infection control.

Audits 

The annual IPC audit was carried out on 17^th November 2022 by Carol Dark and Dr Marc Duffield

No major issues were identified.

Minor issues identified:-

Pedal bins in 8 clinical rooms and 2 toilets were faulty

A number of chairs in the waiting room and clinical rooms were torn

There is minor damage to walls in  three clinical rooms

Action taken:-

Chairs and pedal bins have been replaced, a request has been sent to NHS property services to request repairs to walls

Dr Curran and Partners plan to undertake the following audits in 2023:-

• Annual Infection Prevention and Control audit
• Cleaning audit
• Hand hygiene audit
• Monthly Sharps bin audit
• Weekly Cleaning Spot Checks

Staff training

Staff undertake mandatory annual infection, prevention control training.

Policies

All Infection Prevention and Control related policies are in date for this year.
Policies relating to Infection Prevention and Control are available to all staff and are reviewed and updated annually and all are amended on an on-going basis as current advice, guidance and legislation changes. Infection Control policies are circulated amongst staff for reading and discussed at meetings on an annual basis.

Risk Assessments

Immunisation: As a practice we ensure that all our staff are up to date with their Hepatitis B immunisations and offered any occupational health vaccinations applicable to their role (i.e., MMR, Seasonal Flu and Covid vaccinations). We take part in the National Immunisation campaigns for patients and offer vaccinations in house and via home visits to our patient population.

Curtains: All curtains are regularly reviewed and changed if visibly soiled

Cleaning specifications, frequencies, and cleanliness: There is a cleaning specification and frequency policy which the cleaners and staff employed by the trust work to.

Hand washing sinks: The practice has clinical hand washing sinks in every room for staff to use.

Responsibility

It is the responsibility of everyone to be familiar with this Statement and their roles and responsibilities under this.

Responsibility for Review

The Infection Prevention and Control Lead Carol Dark is responsible for reviewing and producing the Annual Statement for and on behalf of Dr Curran and Partners

Review date March 2024

All patients registered at Dr Curran and Partners have a named doctor who has overall responsibility for your care and support. Your registered GP is also your named accountable and your allocated GP. Your allocated GP will be responsible for the provision of your healthcare.

Patients have a right to see any GP at the practice, it does not have to be your accountable GP. Please let reception know when booking your appointment.

New patients are allocated a Doctor on Registration. If you are unsure of who is your named Doctor please ask at reception.

Your GP practice holds copies of your patient health record electronically and in paper format. Both contain the healthcare information about you that your GP needs including your medical history, medications, allergies, immunisations and vaccinations.

If you have previously registered with a different GP in England, upon registering at this practice your electronic health record will, where possible, be transferred automatically from your previous practice through the use of an NHS system called GP2GP.

Transferring Your Electronic Health Record Leaflet

This practice has an educational remit. As a result of this, London Deanery Tutors (GPs themselves) will visit the practice from time to time and inspect patient records.

Any patient who does not want their records to be inspected should tell the practice manager for future reference.

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, we have to produce a publication scheme. A publication scheme is a guide to the ‘classes’ of information that we intend to routinely make available.

You can obtain a copy of this scheme from reception.

NHS Summary Care Record with additional information

If you are registered with a GP practice in England you will have a Summary Care Record (SCR), unless you have previously chosen not to have one.

It includes important information about your health:

• Medicines you are taking
• Allergies you suffer from
• Any bad reactions to medicine

You may need to be treated by health and care professionals that do not know your medical history. Essential details about your healthcare can be difficult to remember, particularly when you are unwell or have complex care needs. Having an SCR means that when you need healthcare you can be helped to recall vital information.

SCRs can help the staff involved in your care make better and safer decisions about how best to treat you.

You can choose to have additional information included in your SCR, which can enhance the care you receive. This information includes:

• Your illnesses and health problems
• Operations and vaccinations you have had in the past
• How you would like to be treated, such as where you would prefer to receive care
• What support you might need
• Who should be contacted for more information about you

What to do next

If you would like this information adding to your SCR then please complete a NHS Summary Care Record with additional information form, for return to the relevant GP surgery.

Information Leaflet and Website

Summary Care Record Information Leaflet

Choose if data from your health records is shared for research and planning.

 

How we use your medical records:

• This practice handles medical records in-line with laws on data protection and confidentiality.
• We share medical records with those who are involved in providing you with care and treatment.
• In some circumstances we will also share medical records for medical research, for example to find out more about why people get ill.
• We share information when the law requires us to do so, for example, to prevent infectious diseases from spreading or to check the care being provided to you is safe.
• You have the right to be given a copy of your medical record.
• You have the right to object to your medical records being shared with those who provide you with care.
• You have the right to object to your information being used for medical research and to plan health services.
• You have the right to have any mistakes corrected and to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office. Please see the practice privacy notice or speak to a member of staff for more information about your rights.

For more information see our Privacy Notice or ask at reception for a leaflet.

NHS England has been directed by the government to establish and operate the OpenSAFELY COVID-19 Service and the OpenSAFELY Data Analytics Service. These services provide a secure environment that supports research, clinical audit, service evaluation and health surveillance for COVID-19 and other purposes.

Each GP practice remains the controller of its own GP patient data but is required to let approved users run queries on pseudonymised patient data. This means identifiers are removed and replaced with a pseudonym.

Only approved users are allowed to run these queries, and they will not be able to access information that directly or indirectly identifies individuals.

Patients who do not wish for their data to be used as part of this process can register type 1 opt out with their GP.

Find additional information about OpenSAFELY.