# The Special Procedure Licences (Wales) Regulations 2024, Paragraph 5: Safety and hygiene practices of the licence holder


(1) The licence holder must continue to develop, update and maintain their knowledge of infection prevention and control and their skills for each special procedure that they are licensed to perform. The licence holder must maintain a written record of how they have met this requirement.
(2) The licence holder must not perform a special procedure on an individual where the performance is, or is likely to be, compromised due to their own intoxication by virtue of drink, drugs or any other means.
(3) The licence holder must not smoke, vape, consume food or drink in the special procedures work area.
(4) The licence holder must practise regular and thorough hand hygiene.
(5) The licence holder’s nails must be clean and free from nail extensions, varnish and decoration.
(6) The licence holder must cover any open wounds, cuts, or boils on an exposed part of their body with an impermeable dressing.
(7) Any single use, disposable personal protective equipment must be changed in between each client or when there is a break in performing the special procedure.
(8) If a razor is required in the course of performing the special procedure, the licence holder must ensure that only single use disposable razors are used.
(9) The licence holder must carry out a visual assessment of the condition of the client’s skin where the special procedure is to be performed and decontaminate the skin before performing the special procedure.
(10) The licence holder must not perform a special procedure on skin that is not intact or where there is evidence of damage, abrasion or infection.
(11) The licence holder must not supply or apply topical anaesthetics to a client before, during or after a special procedure.
(12) The licence holder must not perform the special procedure if—
(a) the licence holder has been made aware that the client has applied a topical anaesthetic to themselves prior to the special procedure, which is not approved and authorised by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, or
(b) the client has applied a topical anaesthetic to themselves prior to the special procedure and the licence holder has not received sufficient evidence that the topical anaesthetic is approved and authorised by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.
(13) The licence holder must ensure that their workstation is effectively cleaned and disinfected in between each client where there is, or is likely to be, contamination from blood or bodily fluids.
(14) All special procedures must be undertaken in conditions of privacy appropriate to the special procedure being performed.
(15) The licence holder must only permit a client to be accompanied by another individual if the presence of that other individual during the special procedure does not present an increased risk of infection.
(16) The licence holder must not allow animals into the special procedures work area other than registered assistance dogs accompanying a client.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2024/1244/schedule/3/paragraph/5 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/special-procedure-licences-wales-regulations-2024/schedule-3/paragraph-5
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.