Ideas for present for hospital staff who looked after my mum so brilliantly

[roberta3]

My mum died in hospital on Tuesday - have posted on another thread about this. The staff were FANTASTIC and we would like to buy them a gift to send with the thank you card.

I know we could donate to the ward fund but really want the staff to have something. Chocs and biscuits seem a bit unoriginal. Thought about luxury basket of fruit.

If you're a doctor/nurse what would be your dream gift to share with colleagues?

[yackertyyack]

fruit sounds a lovely idea...... my cousin is a nurse in scbu and she said they get lots of chocolate (they never complain but it doesn't help their new year diets!!!)) Sorry to hear of your loss - i am sure they will appreciate you just appreciateing them!

[Miaou]

I think the fruit thing is a lovely idea, particularly if you can get lots of unusual things or things that you can pick up and pop in your mouth as you are passing through (grapes, cape gooseberries, lychees etc).

So glad your mum had such lovely treatment up until the end

[DimpledThighs]

I am sorry for your loss but what a lovely idea to get the staff a present. I am not a nurse but I once worked in an old people's home. One woman brought in a big basket of body shop minatures for everyone to pick and choose one. That was a nice original thought.

Agree chocs are often given. the fruit idea is lovely.

[Pennies]

Roberta3 I followed your earlier thread about your mum and I'm sorry to hear that she died but I am glad that the hospital were able to support you and her so well.

When I had DD1 I wanted to express my thanks to the staff and I told the midwife this and she said that the best thing I could do was to write a letter expressing my thanks to the hospital chief executive and send a copy to the ward. I did this, mentioning all the people by name thtat I wished to thank and I know that it was appreciated because when I had DD2 the same midwife remembered me for it.

I also gave them a huge box of choccies tho as well!

[theheadgirl]

I'm sorry for you loss Roberta, but I'm glad your Mum was cared for well. I'm a nurse, no longer on the ward, but a fruit basket always went down well

[theheadgirl]

Ooh excellent suggestion re letter pennies - people are quick to write to the overlords when they want to complain.....

[Posey]

As an ex-nurse, it was lovely to receive any gift and a card with grateful words. Made all the hard work worth while.
Not sure what your budget is, but agree the fruit idea is nice, also like the idea of smellies to share and magazines.
If you can run to a bit more (or possibly not more as places like Argos are inexpensive) but do they need a toaster or radio or new kettle or some such like for the staff room?

Sorry to hear about your mum, but pleased to hear she was so wonderfully cared for in her final days.

[colditz]

A big tin of slightly posh shortbread to dip in their tea.

I used to be a care assitant and these gifts used to be DEMOLISHED within 2 shifts.

[MrsBadger]

The status quo is a nice card for them to pin on the notice board and the biggest tin of slightly-posh biscuits you can find (have spent a long time working in hospitals ) but do feel free to get more creative.

[roberta3]

Thanks so much. Now off to Google luxury fruit baskets, tho might send a box of chocs as well for the unhealthy ones!

Am just composing a thank you card for the staff and we're also writing to the local paper. True that people find it easy to complain and forget to say when things go well.

Will get round to telling the tale of the last couple of weeks sometime but for the moment just thinking about practicalities till funeral takes place on Tuesday.

[theheadgirl]

Take care Roberta - hope the funeral goes smoothly.xx

[DimpledThighs]

best wishes for the next few days Roberta.

[SheRa]

So sorry to hear about your Mum. Don't know if you have seen those fruit bouquets? They are fruit arranged as a bunch of flowers and are really lovely. Just google fruit bouquet as a uk search and quite a few come up.

[robbosmum]

oh,,,,so sorry about mum, i work in the nhs and fruit is fab,,,,so is great tea and coffee, as we only buy c*ap

[iris66]

roberta3 i am so sorry for your loss. - just before my dad died he bought a TV for the ITU - it may be what you want to do but I know it made a lot of difference to them. I love the idea of a basket of goodies (bodyshop or fruit) for staff to pick from. We sent a letter which I know was well received. bless you honey.

[choosyfloosy]

i do think donation to the ward fund is nice too (you must be up to a huge amount by now) as when ds and i were on the paeds ward the nurses were doing a sponsored slim so they could buy toys for the ward

[suedonim]

I'm sorry about your mum, Roberta.

When my dad died I forget whether we gave anything personally to the staff but we made donations to the ward at the main hospital he was in and also to the cottage hospital where he was looked after by his GP. We had the most appreciative personal letters back from them, very much along the lines of 'it's-nice-to-get-a-bouquet-instead-of-a-brickbat.' I was shocked that thanks seemed few and far between.