Infection Control Statement 2025/2026 (BHF Lundwood and iHeart OOH)
Author:
Rachel McVeigh
Chief Nurse and Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) Lead
January 2026
It is a requirement of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections, and its associated guidance, that the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Lead produces an annual statement demonstrating compliance with good infection prevention and control practice
1. Purpose of the Annual Statement
This Annual Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Statement is produced in accordance with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 Code of Practice. It provides a summary of infection transmission incidents, audit findings, risk assessments, staff training, policy updates, and the IPC improvements implemented across the organisation during the reporting period
2. Infection Transmission Incidents (2025–2026)
No significant infection transmission incidents occurred during this period. All IPC concerns, observations, and near misses were logged and reviewed through the Clinical Governance process, with appropriate actions taken to ensure learning and continuous improvement
3. Cleaning Standards & Environmental Management
The organisation follows the National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness, supported by a Functional Risk (FR) categorisation appropriate to the Priory Centre setting. Cleaning schedules are aligned to these standards and include enhanced routines for high‑touch surfaces and busy areas. Regular compliance monitoring takes place through quarterly environmental walk‑arounds and checks on cleaning frequency, equipment maintenance, and waste management — all of which reflect CQC expectations for documented cleaning schedules and maintenance of equipment
4. Risks Identified
Key infection prevention and control risks for the Priory Centre include seasonal respiratory illnesses and the increased likelihood of transmission associated with high public footfall and visitor turnover. Maintaining consistent hand hygiene, PPE use, and effective environmental cleaning of high‑touch surfaces and shared equipment remains essential in line with CQC expectations for safe IPC systems, routine audits, cleaning schedules, and staff training. Additional operational risks include sharps safety and correct clinical waste segregation, which carry potential injury and contamination hazards. A Legionella Risk Assessment carried is out by a specialist sub-contractor based on ACOP-L8, HSG274 and HTM0401 guidelines and the specific requirements of the site. Required tasks are carried out at the required intervals by trained/qualified staff with additional monitoring and required sampling carried out through a specialist sub-contractor. All results are recorded and kept with a Site-specific water treatment logbook.
National surveillance shows a low‑level but ongoing background presence of measles in England, with 957 confirmed cases reported up to early January 2026, which represents a general population risk where vaccination uptake is reduced. Ensuring reliable documentation of room and equipment cleaning and maintaining full IPC training coverage for all staff, including sessional workers, remain critical to reducing preventable infection risks
5. System Support & Collaboration
The Chief Nurse (IPC Lead) works closely with the specialist IPC team, who provide expert advice, clinical guidance, and support with complex IPC queries. The specialist team also contributes to staff development by attending our educational sessions and helping to embed best practice across the service. Staff can raise IPC concerns at any time through established reporting systems or directly with the IPC Lead, supporting an open and transparent safety culture.
6. Staff Responsibilities
Staff must always adhere to infection prevention and control guidance, maintain the required level of competence, report any identified risks promptly, and must not attend work when they are infectious
7. Incident Identification & Reporting
A robust reporting culture is embedded across the organisation. All IPC concerns, observations and near misses are logged and reviewed through Clinical Governance. During the reporting period, repeated instances of incorrect clinical waste bin use were identified within the service. This remains an improvement priority and is being addressed through immediate staff feedback, reinforced waste‑segregation guidance, and targeted checks to ensure correct bins and labels are available at point of use. No significant infection transmission incidents occurred during the period
8. IPC Actions & Improvements
IPC actions and improvements during the reporting period included strengthened audit processes, increased visibility and accessibility of IPC leadership across sites, enhanced winter preparedness measures, and updated outbreak management pathways in line with current national guidance. Targeted actions were also implemented in response to identified issues, including improved waste‑segregation controls within iHeart, focused staff reminders, and additional monitoring to ensure sustained compliance.
9. Audit Programme (2025–2026)
The audit programme for 2025–2026 included the annual Infection Prevention and Control audit, alongside a schedule of quarterly internal audits covering environmental cleanliness, equipment decontamination, PPE compliance, and clinical waste management.
10. Risk Assessments
Risk assessments completed during 2025–2026 included Legionella and water safety checks, staff immunisation compliance, PPE requirements, clinical waste management, curtain and soft‑furnishing change schedules, outbreak management arrangements, and seasonal measures to support safe distancing and infection control within high‑footfall areas. These assessments form part of our routine compliance with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 Code of Practice
11. Training
All staff complete mandatory Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) training upon joining the organisation. Staff also provide a declaration confirming they will remain up to date with ongoing IPC refresher training. Training compliance is monitored through internal systems to ensure that staff maintain the required level of IPC competence.
Updates and refresher content are provided through regular educational events, and staff have access to the Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (BHNFT) specialist IPC website for current, evidence‑based guidance and resources. Equipment used for patient care is routinely checked to ensure it is fit for purpose and appropriately calibrated, supporting safe practice in line with IPC standards.
Policies
Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) policies are reviewed and updated annually to ensure alignment with current national guidance and best practice. Updated policies are made available to all staff via the BOB HR system, ensuring consistent access to the most recent IPC requirements across the organisation.
Review
This Annual Infection Prevention and Control Statement will be reviewed in January 2027.