Ok to give a home nurse a Christmas gift?

Johnmcl7

I'm not sure the best place to put this topic but I guess ultimately this is an employment question.

My Dad had a bad accident a couple of years ago and is now home but requires a nurse to see to him a couple of visits a week. Although it's potentially a wide range of nurses it's mostly been two nurses that regularly visit and are very good to him.

I've been reading up on whether this is allowed or not but I'm finding the information is not clear, the general rule seems to be nurses aren't allowed to accept personal gifts to ensure the patient is not trying to get preferential treatment. I've seen some comments claim this rule doesn't apply for nurses working with patient after discharge because as it's one to one rather than in a ward.

I'd appreciate any advice on what the current policy is for nurses as I don't want it to be awkward to offer a gift if the nurses aren't allowed to accept it.

Neil_Jones

If in doubt, stop at a Christmas card. Then nobody can say anything.

Samsung_Note2

Im sure a card and a nice tin of biscuits or decent chocs wouldn't go a miss.

DCFC79

What were you thinking as a gift OP ?


Cant see a tin of biscuits or small box of chocs would cause an issue.

TBagpuss

A card with a brief note thanking them and expressing appreciation would be fine, a letter to their boss doing the same would probably be much appreciated.

In terms of gifts, it's best to ask - as the specific policy may vary from one employer to another. Could you call the agency or practice where they are based to ask whether it is permitted?

(I don't work in the NHS, but in my workplace we have policy which means that staff are allowed to accept small gifts such as flowers or chocolates, but anything with a value (or estimated value) of over £10 has to be declared and noted on the gifts register, and approved by our compliance officer. Gift of money, or things like gift-cards which are money-equivalents, are not permitted under any circumstances. So it may be that both the nature of the gift, and its value, would be relevant to whether or not the nurse was allowed to accept it.

Johnmcl7

DCFC79 wrote: »

What were you thinking as a gift OP ?


Cant see a tin of biscuits or small box of chocs would cause an issue.

Nothing fancy or expensive, just something like a bottle of Prosecco or similar.

John

phildixon1

I am sure that would be fine John. I wouldn't have thought you'd be breaking any rules in my opinion.

xapprenticex

Does it have any strings attached??







Like a guitar for example.

sooty&sweep

Hi

A tin of biscuits, chocolates, bottle of prosecco etc would be fine

shortcrust

When I was with the NHS I’d have accepted biscuits without a thought but I’d probably have said no to booze.

elsien

Even if they can accept a gift there are likely to be rules about the value. In my last place (not a nurse but care settings have similar rules) it was nothing over a fiver.