To ask what gifts do ward staff appreciate in January

[DC1214]

Just home after having DS2, was on the antenatal ward for a week beforehand and postnatal for a few days after so want to hand in thank you present. What is likely to be appreciated in January? I’m thinking the usual chocolates/biscuits may be less welcome after the festive period.

Nice biscuits or hand creams? And a card thanking them for their care and mentioning any one who was particularly nice to you - if they were 😆

I was thinking of writing a cheque for them to buy something for their staff room (e.g. keep them in tea for a while or splash out on a velvetiser). Following in case a better idea comes along!

Don't write a cheque, it will go to the hospital, not the ward.

A selection of nice instant coffees would usually be appreciated and plainish biscuits that they can grab for a quick snack when too busy for a proper meal break. (The type you can take a polite bite of and then stuff the rest in as you go back out the door)

Congratulations on your new baby! Where I work someone recently brought in a box of cheesy cracker things, which was very welcome after a month where we got lots of sweets/chocolates, but I’m sure anything you did bring in would be appreciated whatever it is!

Just in reply to 2Turtle, a cheque might not be such a good idea though, just because most NHS trusts will have policies with a maximum gift value that staff are allowed to accept (normally £20-£50 or so) and most will specify not to accept cash or money because it leaves staff open to accusations that they’ve accepted a bribe (although I appreciate this is obviously not your intention!) I’d stick to lower value things that can be shared by the team eg teabags, biscuits, coffee etc.

Also if there are any staff members in particular you want to thank, if you send a card specifically naming them that is really useful because they can use it as evidence for appraisals/revalidation, so that’s always really valuable.

Chocolates are always appreciated! Can only speak for myself but individual cards means the most to me, I've kept every one I've ever received plus I can use them at revaluation time.

Revalidation!

Mini, pocket-sized hand creams. HCP hands are dying
And a thank you card - every ward I've worked on we always keep cards and pin them in staff rooms etc for staff to read.

@LagunaBubbles

Revalidation!

Frothy coffee sachets, hot chocolate sachets, tea bags., biccies and chocolates.

We’re not allowed tins of sweets/biscuits because of covid but black biros always go down well!

Honestly the best thing is a card if someone has been particularly kind to you write their name in it because they can use it as evidence in their revalidation. Don't go to any bother at all going out of your way to buy gifts, some trusts are a bit funny with open boxes of chocs rn in staffrooms any way. If you really feel you want to take something the costco box of Borders biscuits is cheap, massive so looks good and all individually wrapped so not going to make infection control antsy. We claim we are eating healthy but on nightshift you eat what you get your hands on regardless of the time of year. Congrats on your lovely new baby.

@AngelicInnocent

Don't write a cheque, it will go to the hospital, not the ward.

A selection of nice instant coffees would usually be appreciated and plainish biscuits that they can grab for a quick snack when too busy for a proper meal break. (The type you can take a polite bite of and then stuff the rest in as you go back out the door)

I spoke to the senior nurse - she can accept money on behalf of the staff, as long as she accounts for it / gives you a receipt . She pooled such gifts to order in pizza etc as a treat for the staff. She was very careful to ensure that each shift shared the gifts.

I just gave my Mum's Gp surgery a big selection box of Pukka teas (gert big one, costs about £11 I think). They've been so helpful dealing with her during her end of life care at home. My friend works on reception and says they're a really nice counterpoint to all the chocolate and biscuits they have. I've drip fed them sweet stuff too though!!

A lovely card would be very much appreciated. We have a nice cafe/deli near our hospital and we sometimes get vouchers for there which we then use to cater and staff meetings/birthdays or peaceful days when we can sit down and enjoy a nice cake together. Teas and coffee's - especially those lovely sachets of cappuccinos or latte's and nice herbal teas.

Congratulations on your baby!

The best gift my ward got given was a huge basket of fruit (don't know if that's allowed on current times though!). Cards with individual names on are invaluable for revalidation too.

Cards are lovely as already mentioned.
Honestly although chocolates and biscuits are appreciated, we get so many of them. Someone once bought us a couple of huge Multipacks of crisps and they went down an absolute storm as sometimes you just want something savoury to grab!