What is an acceptable way to thank a supportive GP?

[Seasidewalker]

Reaching out to those of you who might know!

My GP is fantastic, she gives her patients time, is really sensible, happy to be guided by private consultants (the NHS refused her referral for me). There is so much more but you get the idea.

I really appreciate her and I'd like to give her a small gift or do something to recognise my appreciation.

What is acceptable in GP practices? I'd like it to be something for her but I'm not sure if it is likely just to be shared out?

Thanks and never underestimate the impact you have on your patients. Thank you 🙏

Wouldn't a nice card with a message be ok?

A hamper of biscuits/tea/coffee that she can share with her colleagues will be well received. As health professionals we aren’t allowed to accept individual gifts unless management allow it.
And if any of you have good service from a nurse or MW a card saying thank you is always appreciated for revalidation.

Why not just write a heartfelt message in a card? I'm a teacher and my most meaningful thank-yous are the ones written in cards I can keep for years to come, with a thoughtful and unique message in them. The wine, chocolates, cups etc come and go.
I'd like it to be something for her but I'm not sure if it is likely just to be shared out?
But do you not acknowledge that she wouldn't be able to do the job she does, at the level she does it at, without all the support staff at the surgery, colleagues to bounce ideas off etc? I'd go with a big tub of heroes tbh but make the message in the card the thing that's just for her.

Yes a written thank you will go a long way.

As health care professionals we need to provide evidence of patient feedback, often patients just say thank yous but this really isn’t evidence.

Getting independent unsolicited feedback in written form is rare, she’ll treasure it like gold.

Glad you’ve had a good experience.

5 star review and a letter of thanks.

Just remember if a gift is over a certain amount they may not be allowed to accept it

I work in a surgery. A card definitely as they show them at their appraisals. If you want something just for her, then flowers.

A card. I retired and brought home all the lovely cards I'd got over the years and at retirement. It's lovely to look back on.

I had a lovely patient who used to bring me a few flowers from her garden, no cost but so thoughtful. I really appreciated that. Or a card / note saying thank you is always nice

Yes a heartfelt card is the most important. I did that for a consultant who had performed an op on my dc and he said that he could show it for his appraisal. I gave lots of other goodies too that he could share with the other staff in the hospital unit.

A card with a message of appreciation. I doubt that GPs are allowed to accept valuable gifts. I once gave mine some produce from the garden, which I think is ok.

I bought mine a modest bunch of flowers. She was delighted. I’ve never done that before or since but she listened and took my concerns seriously, and thank goodness she did.

Your GP will be thrilled to have your appreciation!
they have to declare anything of any value - think over a tenner -
Whatever u do though, put something in writing
as it is only the feedback in writing that can be used in health care professionals appraisals and that is where it really counts !!

I work in a GP practice and the loveliest gift I've had from a patient was a handwritten note in a lovely card, letting me know how much I'd helped them.
The usual biscuits etc. Go down well to share in the tearoom but it's the little notes that are held on to for a long time and will mean so much.

I work in healthcare. I don't think we're allowed to accept gifts over £5 (or it might be £10). As others have said, the ones I have pinned above my desk, which keep me going, are the cards and letters. Someone once knitted some gloves, because they saw I had Raynauds. And I still use an embroidered bookmark someone had made with a lovely message of thanks.

Thank you for wanting to do something. It is always disproportionately appreciated! I've tried to take it into my normal life - to make my thanks outweigh my complaints. But it's hard!

When I wanted to thank a GP who really helped me I did a small appropriate cross stitch picture which both he and his wife were delighted with. Could you make something really special like that?

That’s a really lovely thought -
but I wonder how delighted a GP, or indeed teachers, and other health professionals really are with items like this ???

I always appreciated a card or note with a thoughtful message, and still have little hand made gifts from over 30 years ago. Anything more was embarrassing.

Fab, thank you so much for your thoughts, that gives me lots to go on I'll definitely go with a card and then something else, perhaps the hamper of goodies for the practice.