1. Policy Statement
The Laser Club is committed to maintaining the highest standards of infection prevention and control (IPC) to protect patients, staff, contractors, and visitors. We recognise our responsibilities under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections) and relevant health and safety legislation.
2. Purpose & Scope
This policy provides guidance to minimise the risk of infection and applies to:
- All staff, volunteers, and contractors
- All patients, members, and visitors to the premises
- All equipment, treatment areas, and procedures carried out at The Laser Club
3. Disinfection & Cleaning
- All treatment areas and equipment are cleaned and disinfected before and after each patient use.
- Only approved disinfectants and cleaning agents are used, in line with manufacturers’ instructions and COSHH assessments.
- A documented cleaning schedule is in place for daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning tasks.
- Spillages of blood or bodily fluids are cleaned immediately using appropriate disinfectants and PPE.
4. Hand Hygiene
- Staff must wash or sanitise hands:
- Before and after each patient interaction
- After handling waste or contaminated items
- After removing gloves or PPE
- Alcohol-based hand rubs are available in all clinical areas.
- Handwashing facilities are provided with hot water, antibacterial soap, and disposable towels.
5. Waste Management
- Waste is segregated into clinical and non-clinical streams.
- Sharps (needles, blades, etc.) are disposed of immediately after use into approved sharps containers.
- Clinical waste is placed in appropriately marked bags/containers and collected by licensed contractors.
- Waste storage areas are kept secure and locked.
6. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Staff must use appropriate PPE (gloves, masks, aprons, eye protection) when carrying out treatments or handling chemicals.
- PPE is single-use where possible and disposed of safely after use.
- Staff are trained in correct donning and doffing of PPE to prevent cross-contamination.
7. COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health)
- All cleaning products, disinfectants, and treatment-related substances are risk assessed under COSHH.
- Substances are stored securely in labelled containers.
- Staff receive training in safe handling and emergency procedures.
- Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are available for all hazardous substances.
8. Ill Health
- Staff must not attend work if suffering from infectious conditions (e.g., flu, COVID-19, skin infections).
- Patients displaying signs of infection may have treatment rescheduled to minimise risks to others.
- Any outbreaks of communicable disease will be reported to Public Health England/local health protection teams as required.
- A return-to-work policy applies following illness, requiring staff to be symptom-free before resuming duties.
9. Training
- All staff complete IPC training during induction and annual refreshers.
- Training covers: hand hygiene, cleaning and disinfection, PPE, waste disposal, and COSHH.
10. Review
- This policy will be reviewed annually or sooner if there are changes in legislation, guidance, or clinical practice.
