Reading List

Key official sources used in this course. Together they set out the UK infection prevention and control (IPC) framework, practical hand hygiene and PPE guidance, waste and occupational exposure advice, and community-pharmacy-specific application of these principles.

1. Core IPC framework

• NHS England - National infection prevention and control manual (NIPCM) for England
  The primary England-facing framework used here. It explains why standard infection control precautions apply across care settings and describes organisational expectations for implementation and training.
  https://www.england.nhs.uk/national-infection-prevention-and-control-manual-nipcm-for-england/

• NHS England - Chapter 1: Standard infection control precautions (SICPs)
  A concise page for day-to-day pharmacy IPC covering hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene, PPE, the care environment, care equipment, spillages, waste and occupational exposure prevention.
  https://www.england.nhs.uk/national-infection-prevention-and-control-manual-nipcm-for-england/chapter-1-standard-infection-control-precautions-sicps/

• NHS England - National infection prevention and control manual for England: appendices
  Supporting material, including step-by-step handwashing and hand-rub guides, PPE aide-memoires, and decontamination appendices for reusable non-invasive equipment.
  https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/national-infection-prevention-and-control-manual-for-england-appendices/

2. Hand hygiene, PPE, and pharmacy application

• NHS England - Standard infection control precautions: national hand hygiene and personal protective equipment policy
  A national policy focused on hand decontamination and PPE expectations across NHS care settings. Useful for clarifying when gloves are, and are not, required.
  https://www.england.nhs.uk/patient-safety/standard-infection-control-precautions-national-hand-hygiene-and-personal-protective-equipment-policy/

• NHS England Midlands - Infection Prevention and Control: Top Tips for Community Pharmacy (December 2025)
  A concise community-pharmacy summary covering hand and respiratory hygiene, PPE, cleaning schedules and equipment cleaning, waste, sharps injury procedures, and staff health measures including role-relevant Hepatitis B vaccination.
  https://www.england.nhs.uk/midlands/wp-content/uploads/sites/46/2025/12/10-Top-Tips-for-IPC-FINAL-December-2025.pdf

• NHSBSA - NHS Community Pharmacy Blood Pressure Check Service specification
  A practical pharmacy example: blood pressure monitors must be cleaned in line with manufacturer instructions and current IPC guidance.
  https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/2023-08/NHS%20Community%20Pharmacy%20Blood%20Pressure%20Check%20Service%20version%202.2.pdf

3. Occupational exposure and staff protection

• HSE - Immunisation against blood-borne viruses
  A practical summary explaining that Hepatitis B vaccination should follow a risk assessment and that settings with regular significant exposure risk should consider offering immunisation to staff.
  https://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/blood-borne-viruses/immunisation.htm

• GOV.UK - Green Book, Chapter 18: Hepatitis B
  The national reference for pre-exposure and post-exposure Hepatitis B vaccination; the authoritative source used for occupational health decisions.
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hepatitis-b-the-green-book-chapter-18

4. Four-nations IPC signposting

• NHSScotland - National Infection Prevention and Control Manual (NIPCM)
  The Scottish IPC manual used across health and care settings in Scotland and the main reference for staff working there.
  https://www.nipcm.scot.nhs.uk/

• Public Health Wales - NIPCM
  Public Health Wales uses the Scottish electronic NIPCM alongside Wales-specific guidance and policies.
  https://phw.nhs.wales/services-and-teams/antibiotics-and-infections/nipcm/

• Northern Ireland Regional Infection Prevention and Control Manual
  The Northern Ireland manual provides open-access IPC guidance to support standardisation across Trusts, primary care, private clinics, voluntary sectors, care homes and hospices.
  https://www.niinfectioncontrolmanual.net/

5. Legal and wider national context

• GOV.UK - Health and Social Care Act 2008: Code of practice on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance
  Background on designated IPC leads, cleaning and decontamination policies, schedules and records, staff training, and the legal framework for infection prevention in England.
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-health-and-social-care-act-2008-code-of-practice-on-the-prevention-and-control-of-infections-and-related-guidance/health-and-social-care-act-2008-code-of-practice-on-the-prevention-and-control-of-infections-and-related-guidance

• NHS England - HTM 07-01: Safe and sustainable management of healthcare waste
  The official waste-management reference linked from the NIPCM for waste classification, segregation, storage, packaging, transport and disposal in England and Wales.
  https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/management-and-disposal-of-healthcare-waste-htm-07-01/

• NICE CG139 - Healthcare-associated infections: prevention and control in primary and community care
  A long-standing primary and community care IPC guideline, useful for context on infection prevention principles outside hospital settings.
  https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg139

Pharmacies should also follow local SOPs, manufacturer instructions for equipment and cleaning products, commissioner requirements for specific services, occupational health arrangements for exposed staff, and the national IPC framework that applies in their own UK nation.