Doctors surgery not able to accept weekly magazines due to heath and safety

[Aeroflotgirl]

I went into my local doctors surgery to give them some weekly magazines (talking about Take a Break and Bella), and the receptionist told me that they cannot accept them due to health and safety, wtaf!!!!

She told me that the local hospital take them. So if the local hospital can have them, which they do, why can't they. I don't drive so the hospital is a distance away so not going to do that. stop the world I want to get off. Madness.

Are Dr said the same. I’m sure people just pop them into the waiting room though. The world has gone mad.

I'm afraid this isn't new - they're an infection risk. The hospital will probably use them in places where infection control isn't an issue, like the psychiatry or psychology clinic waiting room.

It’s not madness. It’s an infection control issue.

I work in a GP surgery and the amount of organisations, charities, community groups, private businesses etc who want to put their leaflets and posters up in the surgery is never ending. We really do not want more paper junk!

They are definitely an infection control risk, especially at this time of year with flu and norovirus doing the rounds.

Having lots of paper about is also a fire risk. Did you know that 40% of all fires in healthcare premises are due to arson? Seriously.

Things have changed now. You are far better off just recycling them.

It’s madness! Sensible, logical madness I tell you.

Just recycle them.

Possibly the perfume strips being an issue. Some places are scent free.

Just recycle them, no one wants to read that drivel.

It’s not madness, it makes perfect sense. Magazines are an infection risk.

Who wants to pick up a magazine that numerous ill people have had their germy hands on?

The world has gone mad

Not really. It’s part of infection control. Just think of all those fingers belonging to unwell people, some infectious, that have thumbed through often after being licked as I have often witnessed the pages over the course of an inordinate amount of time because no one has time to change the magazines often enough.

When you put your brain to it, it’s not a great idea, especially in ‘flu season. Just put them in a recycling bin. It’s hardly a hardship.

I am with the GPs surgery on this.

Imagine how many sick and infectious people will touch those magazines.

Me - I love a browse through a dog eared Hello Magazine or a Take a Break. Bloody boring waiting in Surgery now. Not everykne is leaking and seeping you know.

I'd take the 'infection control' argument - if it weren't for the fact that most GP surgeries these days have touch screens that all patients have to use to sign in on.

They're feckin' filthy.

Not everykne is leaking and seeping you know.

You don't get noro through leaking and seeping.

How do you know who has touched the magazine before you?

Yes you have me there. Totally forgot about having to be leaking and seeping to be contagious

But those same people who nay 'infect' magazines will also be touching the door handles so they can enter the premises, sitting on the seats, sneezing into the air you breathe, and touching the screen to check-in!

The usual hygiene rules apply- use a tissue if you sneeze, do not go to the drs with norovirus or flu- they can't do anything unless you are old or have complications in which case ask for a home visit- and wash your hands as soon as possible after leaving the premises.

You have just as much risk of contamination from using the door handles and sitting on the seats.

I don't read magazines at the GPs particularly for the reasons stated - best way to catch the illness of the person who was in before you

I'd take the 'infection control' argument - if it weren't for the fact that most GP surgeries these days have touch screens that all patients have to use to sign in on.

I’d take that argument except hand gelbis generally next to the touch screens and screens are easily cleaned. It’s not next to the magazines and you can hardly give them a wipe down.

OP a care home or similar might take them?

Correct jingling but you can do sweet FA about any of that. Infection control is about doing something about the aspects you can control in order to reduce the risk.

And you can’t trust a single person to follow the usual hygiene rules because for every one person that follows the rules, there are 10 that don’t.

For about 8y I attended the Children's Outpatients clinic in the local hospital every 4-6m. The majority of children attending this Outpatients will be immunologically vulnerable. There are signs everywhere warning about rashes and D&V, there are bottles of hand sanitiser and reminders to wash with soap. The toilets there are the cleanest ones in the hospital.

Yet the waiting room has an amazing playroom for patients and siblings.

Every visit I would bring an armful of National Geographics, First News, Aquila etc for the waiting room. They absolutely bit my arm off in delight!

So I have to say that I am very dubious about the 'infection control' argument.

Infection control, nothing to do with health and safety. It's ok to sit on your own toilet reading the magazines if you choose, but don't pass them off onto the surgery afterwards.

Not all Trusts do it either. A Trust I worked in recently didn’t get rid of their magazines until a visit from the CQC was due. After the visit the magazines didn’t return as that was what was recommended.

Maybe restaurants should follow infection policies with their menus, how many people touch those every day and does anyone wash their hands afterwards.