The National Health Co-op has moved to permanently remove children’s toys from waiting rooms in its six medical clinics across Canberra.
Managing director Adrian Watts told 666 ABC Canberra that toy rooms at medical centres were a breeding ground for germs.
“When children come into the surgery, unfortunately most of the time they are carrying some sort of disease or infection,” he said.
“The easiest way for them to pass on the sickness is through sharing of toys.
“We want to be preventing disease, but what is really happening is the toys get really grotty.
“Unfortunately not all parents are looking after their kids or keeping them away from the playrooms when they’re most infectious.”
The bulk-billing medical centres can be found in Charnwood, Evatt, Kippax and Belconnen in the north and Chisholm and Wanniassa in the south.
“We’ve been operating for six years in some clinics and have a whole lot of aged toys that really aren’t appropriate and difficult to keep clean,” Mr Watts said.
“What that means for reception staff is they are needing to wipe down the toys after every use.
“It’s a nice thing to have on paper — let’s wipe our toys down everyday — but after just one use a child can pass on a toy to the next child and there goes the disease with it.
“In that instance we’re not in the community preventing disease at all, we’re contributing to it.”
Mr Watts said soft toys, abacuses, blocks and dolls were among the toys that would be removed from the waiting rooms.
“We’re not looking at removing all devices that kids can play with,” he said.
“We’ll be keeping kids books in each of the waiting areas.
“I’d like to see more electronic devices that are readily accessible, easy to use and easy to keep clean.”
Priority to keep doctors on time
Parents disgruntled by the change have been reminded they can bring their own toys from home to keep their children entertained.
“More than half the patients already bring their own toys in not wanting to share or catch diseases,” Mr Watts said.
“It’s great to be able to have facilities in the waiting room to look after young children, but it’s more important that we keep the doctors running on time.
“We want to get the children in to see the doctors and nurses as quickly as possible.”
A spokesperson for the Australian Medical Association said there were no national regulations calling on medical clinics to remove toys from waiting rooms.