Is it ok to give a doctor a gift ?

[Happydays30]

I’m probably overthinking it, but I’m just not sure if it would be odd to do since I only saw them once and they’re not my usual doctor, they were just on the team that came and helped me out of hours

the backstory is I had a cardiac arrest in hospital during the night and the on call consultant (and a group of other people too) came and helped me. It was obviously really frightening and I was actually awake on/off after they got my heart beating again but i was really groggy and delirious and I remember very little, only tiny snippets. I was sent overnight to a different hospital and the consultant came in the transport

I just wanted to go back and thank him in person. From the little bits I do remember, I remember how much he calmed and reassured and how kind he was. And how he held my hand and talked to me about my dog and told me I was safe. Meanwhile he was also doing all the important medical stuff at the same time that literally saved my life

I’m alive and survived with no neurological problems thanks to him and his amazing team that night. I know it’s probably just another job for him and he probably won’t even remember, but I’ll never forget how kind he was to me. At 4am aswell and then god knows how late he even got home from the other hospital after I was transported there

would that be ok to go back and say thank you to him and the team and give a card and gift?

i think he was an anaesthetist so just not sure how I would actually go and give a gift as I don’t know what ward he’d be on apart from operations. I know I could leave it with the reception at the hospital entrance, but if possible I just wanted to personally thank him for all his help that night and for saving my life

Like I said I’m probably just overthinking it, but I just didn’t want to seem odd or like I was making a big deal out of something that he might not even remember haha. It just stuck with me how kind he was when I was quite literally on deaths door and how lucky I am to be alive thanks to him and his team!

Yes! I think so. I’ve certainly done it a few times and it was well received. Just chocolates or a bottle of nice wine.

That’s great to know, thank you! I’ve never done it before so just want sure if it was the done thing or not!

I’ve done it a few times and has always been well received

A personal card and a small gift is lovely in this circumstance. Do you know the doctor's name? An anaesthetic consultant would usually have a shared office on critical care so I would suggest taking it there.

I think it would be nice.

I used to have an incredible GP. I bought him a Christmas present once. Just a small token thing. I debated going down there with it because a) I thought people might think it strange and b) he was Jewish.

In the end I went a few days before Christmas. The 3 people in the queue in front of me all turned out to be there to hand over gifts for the same GP! Arm fulls of them! After I gave them mine I heard one receptionist say to the other "back in a minute, I've got another pile for doctor_name". How fantastic to have made that much of an impact on so many people eh?

I also have a friend in the NHS who is very kind and helps people through very bad times. She frequently gets gifts from patients, most often nice quality chocolates,and really appreciates it.

Hi OP. I'm glad to hear you've recovered from that ordeal.

I think a thank you card and some sweets or other treats would be a lovely gesture. If you know the name of the doctor you should be able to leave them with reception staff.

NHS staff can't accept personalised or expensive gifts as it could create a conflict of interests. But sweets are inexpensive, shareable and usually gratefully received.

I'm sp glad you have come through this. I'm certain the doctor who saved you will have remembered it well. He will be very pleased to receive a nice card and a small gift. It is always nice to be recognised. In the NHS dept I work in we all treasure any thanks and cards we get.

Please do write a note or a thank you card.

When I used to have a proper office desk space, I would pin them to the cubicle divider, and they really helped on a difficult day. Sometimes in the grind of it all, you don’t realise the little things you do that make a difference, and it’s important to be reminded of them. The doctor concerned may not even realise he had a particularly calming and reassuring manner on the transfer.

When I left my last place after many years, I received a card from a patient who had been a real diagnostic conundrum when he first presented. He had multiple unusual complications from this, and I had to fight really hard to get the right treatments for him as his disease was very rare. He thanked me for his extra years but the thing I will always remember is that he wrote “and through it all, your care has been like a warm arm around my shoulder”.

Also, we have to collect evidence of our practice, including patient feedback for appraisal and revalidation , so words of thanks are much appreciated for this less warm and fuzzy purpose too.

Write to the chief of other trust. It will be passed on.

That's a lovely idea, but don't expect him to be free when you come. Just write an accompanying heartfelt note of gratitude, and leave it for him with the package at the front desk.

The letter/ card is the most valuable part. Some NHS Trusts have strict rules about gifts (including alcohol) but chocolates/ biscuits are always ok.

Thank you cards are absolute gold for appraisal and revalidation. But they're also a real morale boost.

Sending a thank you card would be a nice thing to do.

I don't think turning up would be appropriate I just wanted to go back and thank him in person.

I've given my GP a very expensive bunch of flowers. There's constantly presents being handed in at my surgery at Xmas.

I think it's a very normal thing to do.

I bet he'll remember. Do you remember his name? If so, call or visit where you were and just explain the situation with a card and/or gift. Obviously he may be busy, at a clinic etc but if he's there and he has a minute, I'm sure he'd absolutely spend that minute seeing you.

It’s a nice thing to do, however be aware depending on where they work they usually are only allowed to accept a gift of a certain amount, usually £5-10 and no cash, this being said people still accept them, just depends if they get seen they could be in trouble

Yes definitely! If you don't know their name then put the date you met them and brief description - 'you and the team saved my life when I had a cardiac arrest on X'
Chocolate is always well received!

I would include 'the team' even if you only remember one Dr - the cleaners & porters & very junior clinical staff all helped (directly or indirectly - someone needs to top up the arrest trolley & deliver fresh linen) even if you didn't meet them.

You could post it to 'Anaesthetics dept, St Elsewhere Hospital' - as usually you can't access NHS offices as member of the public.

Aww that's so lovely of you (I'm an anaesthetist who regularly does these transfers, we rarely even find out how patients get on when they go to another hospital so even a card letting them known you did fab would be really appreciated

Umm easiest way to track us down would either be to ask for the resus dept via switch board and if you give them the day they'll be able to tell you the name as all resus calls are logged as we have to "sign in".

If you then addressed the card with their name and anaesthetics/icu underneath the name it will get to them (we cover both specialties)

We are allowed to accept small gifts (v v rare as noone remembers us as a specialty but we occasionally get a bottle of wine or box of chocs from labour ward patients). But honestly a card would be more than enough I keep all my patients cards that cheer me up when work is difficult

Glad you're doing well xx

So pleased you are recovering well OP.

My sister is a practice and she has a lot of elderly patients she sees regularly. She knows how well thought of she is when some of her patients give her small gifts and cards at Christmas. It means a lot to her, it’s not an easy life on the frontline of the NHS.

Promise we do remember our transfers! We arr always checking with icu if they've had any updates on how they're doing/if they're being repatriated back yet etc. I visit any of my in hosp cardiac arrests every day if they don't go to another hosp

Will have been a trainee, consultants don't do transfers

I'd say a card and chocolates, also addressed to the team. I'd also say if the care was exceptional enough to merit that, a brief letter or email to the CEO of the trust would also be appropriate.