London - Magazines in the waiting room can provide a welcome distraction before having to face the dentist.
But they could do more harm than good by spreading germs, claim infection experts.
They insist that magazines should be thrown out or recycled after just a week and not left out to be leafed through by patient after patient.
This advice was handed out to Monica Symes, a dentist in Lyme Regis, Dorset, by an NHS infection control worker.
She was also warned that ignoring it could lead to her failing an inspection by the Care Quality Commission. Symes, 65, who has practised for more than 30 years, said: “I can’t believe the magazines would pose any risk to patients.”
She has some dating back to 2004 but added: “Generally we try to keep up-to-date but plenty of old magazines are quite interesting.”
The adviser, from Dorset Primary Care Trust, also warned Symes that Prestik on posters in her waiting room posed a health risk if re-used.
The General Dental Council said it was heavy-handed to wage war on magazines. - Daily Mail