Trafford Primary Care Trust bosses have told staff to get rid of toys and advised GPs to do the same because they fear they spread infections among children.

The trust says Department of Health guidelines prompted the decision to withdraw the 'majority of toys', but accept that visiting children have found there is nothing left to play with.

One senior doctor said the move was "bureaucracy gone made".

The ban was spotted by Martin Rathfelder, from Whalley Range, who was surprised to find there were no toys for his three-year-old son Oscar to play with at Seymour Grove Health Centre in Old Trafford.

"There were no toys in the waiting room at all," he said. "I was very disappointed to hear from the PCT that they are banning toys on their premises.

"Their response was bureaucratic, unfriendly and defensive, and their policy seems to have been decided without consulting the people it affects.

"Oscar and I have been to St Mary's Hospital in Manchester recently and they make a good selection of toys available.

"They even have play co-ordinators, so we cannot understand why Trafford are taking such an approach."

Dr Kailash Chand, regional representative of the British Medical Association, who works in Ashton under Lyne, said toys do not pose a health risk if they are kept clean - and they can be a useful distraction.

He said: "Several doctors have told me PCTs are banning toys and it is bureaucracy gone mad. Waiting rooms without toys must be a nightmare.

"We have introduced more toys at my surgery. We just don't allow soft toys and we make sure they are cleaned properly every day. If having toys means children don't mind coming to see the doctor, they are definitely a good thing."

Other hospitals and surgeries have removed soft toys, which are difficult to clean, but allow a wide range of other play equipment.
Trafford PCT are now considering plastic toys. A spokesman said their move was prompted by a recent update to the code of practice for prevention and control of infections.

In a response to Mr Rathfelder, trust boss Ms Sheena Cumiskey wrote: "Under new guidelines from the Department of Health, the PCT has had to withdraw the majority of toys from waiting areas as they are deemed to pose a risk of cross-infection."

The guidelines say a trust's duty is "to provide and maintain a clean and appropriate environment for healthcare".

A Trafford PCT spokesman said they had removed soft and wooden toys, but had not yet bought plastic ones to replace them.

Central Manchester and Manchester Children trust, which runs the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Booth Hall and St Mary's, said they do have toys - but not cuddly ones - and ensure they are maintained and cleaned regularly.

Oldham and Salford PCT also ban soft toys and say all toys have to be cleaned thoroughly and regularly.

Pennine Acute Trust, which runs hospitals in Bury, Oldham, Rochdale and North Manchester, allow a wide range of toys which can be washed.

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