If you really wanted to thank staff at A and E/paramedics

[Nishky]

What would you do-send nice biscuits, chocolates? I want to thank the whole dept, if you see what I mean.

So a few separate boxes of biscuits?

[Nishky]

PotOfYoghurt I am fine now thank you!

[theredjellybean]

letter to head of department, and copy to medical director of hospital, chief exec, jeremy hunt and your local newspaper, actually add in national newspapers and nursing and midwifery council ( presume its nurses as well as docs you want to thank ) and make sure you mention porters, recpetionists, cleaners etc who are often forgotten...oh and if it was at a weekend could you add a bit about how it was wonderful that the NHS does actually function at the weekend despite what govt proganda says !!!

( ps : very tongue in cheek...seriously though copy a letter to jeremy hunt !)

[Rinceoir]

I'm a doctor and really treasure letters/cards of thanks. I've kept all of mine and brought them with me despite frequent house moves. Some chocolates at the nurses station are always appreciated too!

[theredjellybean]

should add that letters and cards are used in doctors annual apprasials, we have to document and discuss complaints during appraisals, its lovely to be able to show compliments as well. Often pts send chocs etc but written 'proof' that someone thanked you is actually in many ways more appreciated and useful for doctors.

[Boomingmarvellous]

I worked as a nurse in A&E for 9 years and we literally saved lives on a daily basis, but apart from the odd card received I can't remember the staff receiving many chocolates or biscuits.

I remember spending several hours with an elderly lady whose husband we could not save, comforting her, hugging her, reassuring her and ensuring she was safe in the hands of her family to go home with someone. She was lovely to me and it was quite emotional for me too. You do give of yourself in those circumstances. I was saddened when there wasn't even an acknowledgement via a note to thank me, but I know her thoughts and emotions were with more important things so I was fine with it.

The time people spend in A&E is very intense and short even though it can save their life or future health, and relationships with staff there are the same. When people go onto the wards that's where they form a more personal relationship with staff and often the time in A&E is stressful and unpleasant when interventions can be painful, and something you want to forget.

So thank you for thinking of them and biscuits or chocolate would be lovely.

[blindsider]

When I asked what the A&E staff would like as a thank you , the answer was tea and coffee as they had to buy their own, so I took in a 750g tub of coffee and an 1100 bag of PG Tips.

[Rinceoir]

Booming I think people are often so shell shocked in these circumstances that they just can't remember who helped them. I once looked after a young woman who came in to a+e and unfortunately died within hours despite everything we did. I spoke to her family that night, and got a call months later asking if I could meet her family. The whole night had passed in such a blur for them obviously that they couldn't quite recall what had happened. So we met, and talked for quite a long time, and I think it really helped. Afterwards they sent me a beautiful letter which I really appreciated. Obviously most people won't necessarily want to relive such situations though, and I understand why they don't come back to thank us- I doubt it's any less appreciated.

[blindsider]

Draylon

It should be legal to execute people like that.

[georgiatraher]

Hand Made card/picture always warms my heart on the cork board of a nurses station!

I sent my local taxi firm a thank you in my last year of school, to say thanks for keeping me safe to and from the station most weeks.

[DottyButtons]

When I worked in gastro a patient who had been terrified of having a scope done bought us a catering bag sized bag of tea bags and a lovely card as a thank you. Still makes me smile.

[BoffinMum]

An aside, but on a student feedback form once where people were supposed the write about the quality of my teaching, one person moaned they only had showers and no baths in the accommodation. Yeah, right, because I do the plumbing installations as well in my spare time .... NOT

[FirstTimeMummy25]

When I had DS me and DH were so impressed and thankful to the maternity ward and midwifes/docs for all they did for us and how they made what was quite a traumatic birth into a magic moment I sent in a huge tray of crispy creme doughnuts and a thank you card, they were gratefully received and I think they were really happy someone picked up how amazing they were! Most people are quick to complain but not so good at complimenting a good job!

[AnnieOnnieMouse]

I wanted to say thank you for amazing long term care in Lancaster Infirmary. We asked what they'd like, and bought some specific textbooks for the ward, it being way back in the day before online reference books, etc. We stuck a photo of newborn ds in there, with a dedication, so nurses could be reminded of one of the lives they'd helped save.

[GraysAnalogy]

Everyone has said everything.Biscuits are ALWAYS well received. Emails to appropriate people (higher ups) are good too. If anyone shone out to you, a card is lovely. I have just one lonely one on my fridge that I treasure

[sashh]

Send a letter, but I also turned up at my local A and E with a carrier bag of chocolates, crisps, biscuits, kinder eggs ... that was fun.

[BalloonSlayer]

My Dad was only in his nursing home for 3 days before he died (this was expected by the way) so my "hello" 2 boxes of chocolate biscuits were also really my "goodbye and thank you" chocolate biscuits, as I thought two lots was a bit much for a three day acquaintance. I did write a thank you note though (I think! it was all a blur and I remember buying the thank you notes for all and sundry but not what I actually wrote.)

I thought nursing home staff got stuff all the time, so I was surprised and pleased to pass the rest room and see a staff member looking at the what's-what bit on the back of one of the boxes of biscuits (they were v nice ones) in a "wow look at these" sort of way.

I think people who work nights often get hungry at odd times so naice biscuits are the best idea.

[PacificDogwod]

Yy to biscuits/chocolates/thank you card

The most wonderful thank you was recently received by one of the care homes I go in to regularly (GP). A resident had passed away and their family had drafted a beautiful letter, detailing in what ways they had felt their family member had been well looked after (difficult behaviour due to dementia dealt with with kindness and humour, hair and nails always beautifully looked after, staff really seemed to take the trouble to really get to know the person etc etc) and sent it to the Care Commission with the care home copied in.
It was so, so much appreciated by the home, the nursing and caring staff. They come under so much fire and to have a family acknowledge that they are doing a good job to the powers that be meant a lot to them.

So, what I'm saying, consider escalating your thank you as high up the food chain as possible while also thanking the staff at the coal face

[OnlyLovers]

Maybe some posh teabags (and maybe a mega-box of everyday ones too!)

[Ditsy4]

I took a few boxes of homemade cakes to the ambulance crew during the floods and just after a car accident. The guy who received them was over the moon. I said, "Please tell everyone thank you for scooping me up and you are doing a fantastic job in a difficult situation." I also left a message for someone I know who works there and ensured he got one. I put a card in too.
I know at work we really appreciate a thank you and sweets, biscuits or cake.

[Ouch44]

In DHs old A&E dept there was a guy that used to go in and buy the weekend night staff takeaway. He'd done it for years. Think his wife had been treated there. I love this story.
DH loves a good thank you card. Doesn't get many. Lots of complaints.
We take in a couple of boxes of doughnuts in sometimes cos we like to go for a cheeky look round sometimes. The storage room is brilliant - guessing what each but of equipment does!

[gasman]

I've not had a thank you for years (last one was from an obstetric patient whose epidural I sited).

I've been involved in a few complaints...mostly for things outwith my control and often when I've gon above and beyond eg. Staying late to finish up outstanding work, people complain about me rather than the admin cock up that led to 14hours work being scheduled on a 10hour day.

[elfies]

On a lighter note .
After my mum died I sent half a dozen boxes of chocolates for the nurses to share on the various shifts .
My lovely Eighty year old uncle who lived nearby took them in for me and he was chuffed to little butterballs to get kisses from all the nurses to say thank you.
It made his day too, I hope the nurses enjoyed my thank you gifts as much as he did :-)