Risk assessments
HSE guidance says that risk assessments must be kept up to date but does not specify a time frequency. However, it is good practice to repeat risk assessments at least annually and if you are inspected, the CQC will want to see these.
- We have a downloadable risk assessment template along with advice on how to complete it here
Fire risk: The HSE provides guidance on conducting a fire safety risk assessment. Based on the findings of the assessment, the practice needs to ensure that adequate and appropriate fire safety measures are in place to minimise the risk of injury or loss of life in the event of a fire.
Health and safety: Employers have a duty to ensure the health, safety and welfare of their employees at work. There are a number of requirements in health and safety regulations covering the work environment, including ventilation, lighting, cleanliness, work stations, equipment maintenance, hazard warnings, drinking water and facilities to rest and eat meals. More information can be found by clicking the link below.
- View our health and safety checklist here, which contains links to useful information and resources.
Premises and disabled access: Walk around your premises to check that everything is in a good state of repair. It is also worth checking that a wheelchair or mobility scooter can access reception, the disabled toilet and a consulting room. What modifications have you made for those with a sensory impairment (sight and hearing)? Do you have a hearing loop? What happens if a patient cannot read or hear the call board? Since July 2016 it has been mandatory for practices to ask and record whether patients need accessible information and have a policy for making this available to patients that need it.
Infection control: Check your policy is up to date. Are cleaning schedules being carried out regularly? Spot check a clinical room to ensure it meets the requirements.
- View our infection control checklists
- Download a template for your annual infection control audit
- Download a monthly practice walkthrough checklist
Business continuity/disaster recovery: Is your plan up to date? Do all staff know what to do if there is an emergency. It is worth going over this annually with everyone as a refresher.
- Business continuity checklist
- Downloadable policy: Business continuity plan
- Advice on conducting risk assessments here and impact analysis for business continuity
Workplace stress: The world of general practice can be a stressful one, there are regular changes, new services, demanding patients, reduced time and so on. It would be worth undertaking a risk assessment to see how the practice rates in terms of stress. Even the act of doing the assessment will highlight what simple steps can be taken to reduce stress and allow people a chance to talk about what they are feeling.
Although you may feel you are too busy (and stressed) to undertake this, the benefits if done properly can be a reduction in stress or at least an opportunity for everyone to recognise where the main stressors are and take steps to minimise them.
COVID-19: Obviously with the pandemic practices have had to develop new procedures to deal with this. Aside from the infection control checklist above, the following resources are also useful when it comes to risk assessment in practices:
- Reducing workplace risk for all staff during COVID-19: A checklist
- Risk assessments for staff vulnerable to COVID-19
Data Security and Protection Toolkit
The Data Security and Protection Toolkit can be found here. It must be completed annually.
- Our Data Secutiry and Protection Toolkit checklist provides an overview of the information you need to complete the toolkit.
- Downloadable policy: Data security policy
- More advice on information governance
Other articles in this series:
- Annual calendar of practice management: Strategy, key meetings and document updates
- Annual calendar of practice management: Staff issues
Fionnuala O'Donnell is a practice manager in Ealing, West London, and a CCG board member
