Gift for doctor - suggestions please

Paparika

DMG is right it's perishables only.

ali-t

As gifts have to be declared and it would be awckward for both of you if the gift has to be returned to you can you send a lovely card expressing your gratitude? This is something the GP will be able to keep forever and words can mean so much more than a gift.

Katgrit

lostinrates wrote: »

I'm in on NYE too, and planned to take chocs for the rest of the practise then, but now I wnder if I've put my doctors and nurses in a difficult position?:o

Trust me, you wont have put them in an awkward position. Maybe the politically correct red tape says they SHOULD have turned them down but they wont have wanted to, considered it or even felt bad about the fact they did accept them. They will have accepted them in the manner in which you intended them, and either eaten them at work or shared out ALL the gifts amongst the staff and taken them home to enjoy with their families.

I'm hearing lots of people saying they SHOULD be declared but no-one saying they ARE declared. I can imagine by boss's face if i asked for the appropriate form on which to 'declare' my gifts. Ha ha ha

lostinrates

Katgrit wrote: »

Trust me, you wont have put them in an awkward position. Maybe the politically correct red tape says they SHOULD have turned them down but they wont have wanted to, considered it or even felt bad about the fact they did accept them. They will have accepted them in the manner in which you intended them, and either eaten them at work or shared out ALL the gifts amongst the staff and taken them home to enjoy with their families.

I'm hearing lots of people saying they SHOULD be declared but no-one saying they ARE declared. I can imagine by boss's face if i asked for the appropriate form on which to 'declare' my gifts. Ha ha ha

Thank you...I've been worrying about this!


Having thought bout it I'm not going o take anything in when I go for my weekly appointment tomorrow, I'm going o take something in in the New Year when they think its passed them by in the office, then cheer up a boring January week with a treat.

I hve had some miserble, unhelpful doctors who almost resulted in me dying, to have such a great team who listen to how I feel, understand my concerns and problems and are enabling and coordinating an aggressive but appropriate for me treatment plan is just remarkable. They are improving my life significntly!

LondonDiva

As it's a practice, rather than a PCT / hospital, they would make their own rules. There would be no need to declare the gift as if he's a partner rather than an associate or locum, he's part of the group that made the rules, IYSWIM.

Just checked our trust hospitality & gift policy which has no upper limit. If the gift is less than £25 per gift, there's no need to declare unless someone gives a number of gifts on a recurring basis.

People have been given jumpers, chocolates, cake, biscuits, hangers, knitted hats/scarves, bracelets, £25 for a team to use to buy cakes at their next team meeting etc.

I think you need to have a think about what people would appreciate without feeling uncomfortable, or worried that some colleague / relative / random busybody could misinterpret as you experiencing undue pressure. It's not been known for a patient to spend £x on presents for the staff and later on claim that was the only way to get treated. A lot of staff then spend a long time worrying about how to reject a gift without hurting feelings – so look for something that is obviously a thank you, but won’t cause ructions.

I'd suggest having a word with the practice manager if you want some guidance, and strongly suggest that while the GP is a superstar that a lot of people forget the support staff (reception, admin) that helps keep things going so smoothly.

You may also want to wait till about February. At the moment the desks are overrun with chocolate and cake etc - if you wait till a little later on, there'll be real appreciation for your gift.

Errata

Wise words from Diva. My practice supports the local hospice and fund raises by two of the doctors doing the Great North Run every year. I'm pretty sure my practice would rather I made a donation to the Hospice in their name than give them a box of chocs or biscuits.

Katgrit

At the end of the day while it might well be the practice manager or GP who is seen as the 'face' of the surgery its often the backroom staff, typists, receptionists, poor auxillary nurses, bandage changers, swab takers, leg ulcer dressers, phlebotomists etc etc who work the hardest for littlest recognition. Its them (us!) that appreciate the small sentiments of presents the most and are perfectly willing to overlook the fact that some policy writer thinks they should be declared. I am employed by an NHS Trust local hospital but my job is to work in different GP's surgeries for 3 of my 5 days. I bought all my surgeries a tin box of chocolates each which were all accepted without question. My fave surgery whipped out the present THEY had bought for ME, one surgery's staff came round the counter to give me a big hug when i called in, and the surgery who look down on me because i'm not "their" staff looked at me like i was mad. But they all accepted. And i guarantee NONE will have declared them. Like i said, maybe they SHOULD but no-one ever DOES.

savingmummy

I am a nurse for the nhs and people always buy for the consultants etc. you could contact his secretary and see if she has an idea - i did this once!x

Katgrit

Errata wrote: »

I'm pretty sure my practice would rather I made a donation to the Hospice in their name than give them a box of chocs or biscuits.

When you say your "practice" who do you mean exactly? The higher paid GP's and practice managers or the minimum wage backroom factory floor staff? Cos i know for a fact we'd rather have the chocolates!! :-) Maybe thats just us being greedy though. I'm just being honest!!

If any of my patients are reading this, I'm up for Cadburys Roses anytime. Dont worry about any extra form filling in, i'll take care of that. :-)