1. Purpose

MedPlus is committed to providing care in a clean, safe environment and to reducing the risk of infection for patients, staff, and visitors. This policy explains the infection prevention and control measures we use within our clinic.

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

all MedPlus services (including ear care and aesthetics)

all staff and clinicians working at or for MedPlus (including associate clinicians)

the clinic environment, equipment, and any clinical waste generated.

3. Key IPC principles

We aim to prevent infection by:

maintaining high standards of hand hygiene

using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)

cleaning and disinfecting the environment and equipment appropriately

using sterile/single-use products where required

safely managing sharps and clinical waste

screening and responding appropriately to infection risk.

4. Hand hygiene

Hand hygiene is a core safety measure. Clinicians and staff will:

wash hands with soap and water and/or use alcohol hand gel as appropriate

perform hand hygiene before and after each patient contact and after glove removal

maintain short, clean nails and avoid hand jewellery that could compromise hygiene.

Patients may also be asked to use hand sanitiser on arrival.

5. Personal protective equipment (PPE)

PPE is used based on the level of risk and the procedure being performed. This may include:

gloves

masks/eye protection

aprons or other protective clothing.

PPE is changed between patients and used in line with safe practice.

6. Clinic cleanliness and environmental cleaning

We maintain a clean clinical environment. This includes:

routine scheduled cleaning of floors, surfaces, and high-touch points (e.g., door handles, chairs, counters)

cleaning/disinfection of treatment areas between patients

prompt cleaning of any spills in line with safe procedures.

Where appropriate, we use disinfectants suitable for clinical environments and follow manufacturer instructions for contact time and safe use.

7. Equipment cleaning, decontamination, and single-use items

MedPlus uses equipment and products in a way that supports infection control. This includes:

using single-use, disposable items where appropriate

cleaning and disinfecting reusable equipment between patients in accordance with manufacturer guidance

ensuring any items that require decontamination are processed safely and stored cleanly

checking equipment for cleanliness and integrity before use.

For ear care, we follow appropriate hygiene standards for examination and microsuction equipment, including appropriate cleaning/decontamination processes and safe handling of consumables.

8. Aseptic technique and safe practice

Where procedures require it, clinicians will use appropriate aseptic technique to reduce infection risk. This may include:

skin preparation/cleansing prior to procedures

use of sterile or single-use consumables

avoiding cross-contamination through safe set-up and handling.

9. Sharps safety and clinical waste

We manage sharps and waste safely to protect patients and staff. This includes:

safe use and immediate disposal of sharps into approved sharps containers

not re-sheathing needles where avoidable

segregation and disposal of clinical waste in line with appropriate waste management procedures

use of approved contractors/collections where required.

10. Patient screening and when we may postpone treatment

For patient safety, we may postpone treatment if:

you are acutely unwell with a suspected infectious illness

there are signs of active infection in the area to be treated

proceeding would increase infection risk or compromise safe care.

For ear care, we may defer microsuction where there are signs suggesting active ear infection, severe inflammation, or other concerns requiring medical assessment.

11. Staff health and fitness to practise

To reduce infection risk, staff and clinicians are expected to:

follow safe practice when unwell (including not attending work if they may be infectious)

follow immunisation recommendations relevant to their clinical role where applicable

maintain competence in infection prevention procedures required for their work.

12. Incident management

If an infection control incident is suspected or occurs, MedPlus will:

take immediate steps to protect patient safety

document the incident and actions taken

review the event under our clinical governance processes

implement learning and improvements where needed.

13. Patient questions and reassurance

Patients are welcome to ask about our infection control measures at any time. We are committed to transparency and to maintaining a safe clinical environment.

14. Review

This policy is reviewed periodically and updated as needed.

Contact: info@medplusuk.com
Telephone: 01329 722721