Posted By Swis Toys in surgery waiting rooms have been banned as they can pose health risks….. http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/70131

Posted By martinw And of course there is the infection control risk.....

Posted By S W I don't want half your problems though!! ;-)

Posted By martinw Swis, does your employer know how much time you spend on this forum? Is it a good idea having already had a pay cut? Hint hint ;-)

Posted By Andy Petrie Look guys, the title of this post on the main page clearly has 'Swis' next to it, if you don't want to read his posts, then don't read them. Please leave the message boards for people who want to read the message and discuss it, not for slagging of the person who posted it.

Posted By Swis Peter, "Swis I understand that you bring these articles to our attention for discussion or awareness, but you never comment on them in any way. It appears now that the articles are not debated only your posting of them.” I have (already) responded to this question in the other thread and you have already read it. But for your information, I post it again; I do express my opinion sometimes when there’s a conflicting debate. (what’s the point in debating something which is already mutually agreed).……Please see below a couple of links in this matter… (can dig more if required ;-)) http://www.iosh.co.uk/in...iew&forum=1&thread=45663 http://www.iosh.co.uk/in...um=1&thread=46324&page=1

Posted By Swis “does your employer know how much time you spend on this forum? Is it a good idea having already had a pay cut? Hint hint ;-)” LOL, Just discussed this with my boss (who also browse through this forum now and again). According to him, having good safety culture and reduced accidents along with spending a lot of time browsing through the safety forums is acceptable in comparison to not surfing the net at all but having a drastic workplace with loads of press coverage. He says that my job will be at risk if my actions resulted in any media story.. (not for the story but due to wrong use of time…) (by the way, my boss is not a health and safety professional)

Posted By Peter F. Just a point I didn't say Swis was wrong for posting, if that how Swis wants to use the threads that's fine all I asked was could she put that it is a newspaper thread. I wouldn't like to miss something that could improve health and safety were I work just because I thought that Swis had just posted a mews paper article. As I said earlier I believe that Swis has made some very valuble contributions and posted some thought provoking threads.

Posted By Peter Still Sorry, wrong thread! Peter

Posted By GeoffB4 I can't believe I've just spent time reading this rubbish, and then responded! What has it got to do with H&S?

Posted By Graham Bullough GeoffB4 asks what connection this topic has with H&S. One answer is that the heading of the press article is "Health and Safety Zealots ban toys in surgeries". It's a typically journalistic attention grabbing/indignation rousing heading. The article explains that one NHS trust relayed national NHS advice to practices in its area to remove toys from waiting rooms as an infection control measure. It also mentioned that the trust might emulate neighbouring trusts with practices which have washable toys. Another answer is that at each practice where washable toys are provided, one or more people are landed with the task of regularly washing said toys, whether it be a member of practice staff, a volunteer helper (I think my local practice has a "Friends of..type support group) or perhaps a contractor. Staff in most if not all practices are already busy people. Therefore, if staff are required to clean toys is there not a likelihood that the cleaning might not get done at the requisite intervals! From this arises the question of how often such toys should be washed, bearing in mind that a toy handled by/sneezed over by just one infected child will probably render it contaminated and a source of infection for others. It's interesting to read some of the comments beneath the web article. Some people express shock at the removal of the toys while others approve of it as a sensible health measure. One wonders how many parents who expect toys to be provided in a practice waiting room would not hesitate to sue the practice or local NHS trust if they thought that any of their children had contracted an illness via such a toy and/or disputed the frequency of its cleaning!

Posted By martinw You think that that is heartless. In lots of wards now, you cannot take flowers in to those who you are visiting due to the nature of what the persons in the ward are in for. Why? Flowers gather dust and get dirty. The contract cleaners cannot clean them - they do not have the equipment etc. This is indeed about health and safety one way or another. It involves the health and the safety of those who can be protected by taking positive action, and inaction will cause illness. So those who say that you are despairing, stop. Sometimes worthwhile can come out of dross tabloid reporting, such as this thread, which I am still enjoying.

Posted By Robert K Lewis Personally my Noise Assessment shows these toys ought to be banned - it might be a more comfortable experience waiting for the doctor!! If they want toys then there should be a separate play room. I walk with crutches and it is an absolute nightmare trying to get to a seat with a toy strewn floor and kids running round being ploice sirens or fire engines. Bob retiring to a safe distance

Posted By Swis Thats tells me someone's age!!!!!

Posted By Swis not to forget my 14 years safety experience.;-)

Posted By Swis d(^_^)b

Posted By Chris Kelly Children, children.... Seems like you are all on the same side to me, reading things into each other's email - Chinese email whispers ?