Lloyds Clinical retains Gold ANTT Accreditation for a further three years
Lloyds Clinical has been awarded Gold ANTT Patient Protection Accreditation for a further three years, recognising our continued commitment to safe aseptic practice, strong clinical governance and patient safety.
We first achieved Gold Accreditation in September 2023. Since then, our teams have continued to develop how Aseptic Non Touch Technique (ANTT) is taught, assessed, monitored and embedded into clinical practice across the organisation.
Achieving Gold Accreditation for a second time recognises the progress made over the past three years and, importantly, the work taking place every day to maintain consistent standards for patients receiving clinical care outside hospital.
What is ANTT?
ANTT stands for Aseptic Non Touch Technique. It is a standardised approach to aseptic technique designed to protect patients during clinical procedures by helping healthcare professionals maintain asepsis and protect critical parts and sites from contamination.
The Association for Safe Aseptic Practice oversees ANTT and its Patient Protection Accreditation programme. Accreditation provides healthcare organisations with a way to demonstrate effective clinical governance for aseptic technique and their commitment to infection prevention and patient safety.
The accreditation criteria focus on four important areas: policy, education, competency assessment and monitoring of standards.
For Lloyds Clinical, those principles are particularly important. Our clinical teams support patients across a wide range of therapies and complex conditions, making consistent, evidence-based aseptic practice an essential part of safe care.
Building ANTT into everyday clinical practice
Since our first Gold Accreditation, we have continued to strengthen the systems supporting ANTT across Lloyds Clinical.
Over the past three years, we have trained 32 ANTT Champions, with 30 continuing to support teams as local experts and role models.
Training has also developed through the introduction of the official Association for Safe Aseptic Practice e-learning package, strengthened competency assessments, improved induction programmes and annual practice-based competency reviews.
Alongside education and training, ANTT has been embedded more firmly within our clinical governance framework. This includes evidence-based policies, visible clinical guidance, enhanced audit processes and annual snapshot audits, helping us understand how practice is being applied across the organisation and identify opportunities for further improvement.
The Association for Safe Aseptic Practice also recommends ongoing education, practical competency assessment and monitoring as important parts of maintaining ANTT standards over time.
Recognising the people behind the standard
Amy Cooper, Practice Development Nurse and ANTT Lead at Lloyds Clinical, said:
“As ANTT Lead for Lloyds Clinical, I am incredibly proud that we have achieved Gold Accreditation for a further three years. The auditor was particularly impressed by the progress we have made, and the quality of training delivered by the Practice Development Nurse team.
While this is a fantastic achievement, it is not the finish line. We remain committed to continuously improving our practice, delivering excellent care, and ensuring the safest possible outcomes for our patients.”
Retaining Gold Accreditation reflects the work of our ANTT Champions, Practice Development Nurses and clinical teams across Lloyds Clinical who continue to put these standards into practice.
It also gives us an important opportunity to recognise how training, governance and ongoing assurance come together to support patient safety.
For us, maintaining strong clinical standards requires continued attention, learning and improvement. Our renewed Gold ANTT Accreditation is an important recognition of that work and of the teams responsible for delivering it every day.
To hear stories about how our nurses go above and beyond, read Leoni’s story or Hannah’s story.
