NHS physiotherapists can you accept gifts?

[CanYouHaveChocolate]

I’m not talking a huge gift, just some chocolates or flowers or similar.

Basically my DC has been receiving treatment from physio since the age of 3 (now 8). We’ve been very lucky to have the same overall physio throughout that time but had different assistants working with DC day to day (some better than others, my absolute favourite has been working with DC nearly a year)

Physio (and the current assistant) has liaised with school and the GP where needed, including attending meetings at school. Have sorted out pain relief with the GP when we were getting nowhere fast. Referred us on to different places (podiatry, a paediatrician, SALT), adapted exercises to involve games that DCs teachers and scout leaders have played with the whole class/group and are now firm favourite games in those settings, and can make DC smile when they’re in pain and struggling. They have a lovely relationship with DC, and when DC moves onto the next age group team in a years’ time I’d like to get her a small gift.

She’s mentioned several times her love of a particular chocolate from a particular high street retailer. Nothing fancy under £10 in value and it’s never been in a “I want you to get me this” way more of when we’ve been talking about Christmas or Birthdays or food and DC or I have said “We like chocolate” she’ll reply “I like chocolate to, have you tried X? They’re my favourites”

So was thinking of getting her some, and maybe some flowers. But is this allowed? I just want to say thank you to her as she’s always been amazing with DC and always been a listening ear to me and resolved many an issue with School and GP relating to DCs condition.

Hopeful bump as now on 2nd page

Yes so long as it's no more than £20 in value

@manydaysaheadSEN Thank you

In my organisation we can accept gift up to £10 but have to declare it. If its chocolate its often shared in the office- always welcomed and appreciated!

@littleblackno I'm fine with it being shared, it's a gift afterall so I can't dictate what happens to it.

Thank you!

Chocolates or biscuits are best and always appreciated

A voucher is very thoughtful but would be a bit awkward and a bit of a grey area to accept - chocs/ biscuits are always appreciated and no problem at all to accept

A hand written card too!

@Exactfare Oh absolutely to the card, I'll be getting DC to draw/make the card (not sure if thats allowed?) then I'll write inside

Definitely no cash or vouchers. Food, especially sweet food, always welcome (though we had one patient who used to bring in a massive exotic fruit box for the ward at Christmas and we loved him).

I’m not a physio but work in health care. As above, the chocs are allowed and would be greatly appreciated but I can’t express enough how much a hand written thank you card means! It is the absolute best gift to receive, means more than any present. I’m sure everyone I work with would agree.

What she would probably like most is a handmade card from your DD. Write all the stuff you put in your second paragraph, in your daughters own words if you can.

We can accept small gifts and they are really appreciated, but absolutely not expected.

As a rule a card with a message to say how much it has helped is lovely too.

@SoonToBeQueenCamilla Was planning to get DC to draw and make the card then write a message in from both of us, thank you

Not a physio, but work in the NHS.

A card or thankyou letter, or, if you're especially impressed an expression via PALS always goes down well at appraisal time.

I.used to.be a mental.health nurse ,token gifts were fine and much appreciated,
I'm hoping staff can still.accept gifts as my son has been in hospital.recently and the staff have been fantastic

Thank you all will get DC to make/draw a card and then write a message inside, as well as the chocolates

Most trusts have limits such as £10 in value for gifts. Over that and you have to declare or return it and it becomes a pain as forms have to be filled in and you have to find who to declare to etc… So box of chocolates fine or flowers fine. Vouchers or expensive gifts - hassle and bother to declare or have to be returned.

Agree chocolates are lovely and a card, especially one made by your child, will be really valued.

If you want to go one more step you can write to the chief execs office (the name of the chief exec can be googled for the hospital trust). Someone did this for me and I got a letter from the chief exec and recognised for an award. It meant a lot that someone had taken the time to highlight and appreciate my work.

Glad physio has been helpful for you as a family.

Agree write something in the card that the department can use to show the true quality of the work/ support. It really helps. You could also seen if the trust does a team or a therapist of the year and make a recommendation!