Tipping/gifting medical staff

[nogutsnoglory]

Do you tip or give gifts to any doctors, nurses or caretakers in a hospital setting?

Technically I think they are obligated to refuse any tip as it can be misconstrued as a bribe for better treatment but I am sure most happily pocket it.

I feel mixed on this, regardless of giving potential we all should get equal care but we tip waiters and many service people. Why not tip those who are helping us heal after surgery?

 

[rygon]

In the UK we don't generally tip (although tipping seems to have become more popular in restaurants nowadays). I think thanking them is enough. If I know them well (like my GI nurses) I might be inclined to get them some chocolates or something for xmas.

 

[GutlessWonder86]

if the RNs do a great job in the hospital, then I'll send a ty card.

As for my "medical team" of many doctors, over the holidays I'll send a card thanking everyone for taking care of me or if I happen to have an appt. in Nov/Dec, I'll make cookies for the staff as a ty.

 

[afidz]

I would never go as far as tipping a doctor or nurse. I don't think its appropriate. But I have thought about sending my GI a flower arrangement or an edible arangement or something just to show my gratitude for what he has done for me. But that is as far as I would go.

 

[PsychoJane]

Here, it is prohibited to tip... Well I think it is more the other way around, they can't accept them. I know we gave gift when I was in hospital for a long time, like chocolate boxes and these kind of things. I think they were not suppose to accept them but I had been there for so long, maybe was it different? Else, I remember making a poster to thanks the team (that being said, I was in the pediatric yard). It had been my way to thank them

 

[GutlessWonder86]

my hematologist went above and beyond for me last year as I had DVTS in both legs.
She even gave me a hug when I broke down and cried because I was upset that my body was still throwing clots and I had to start a new treatment as well as being off my feet the ENTIRE winter except for taking the dog out and making dinner.

I bought her this beautiful plaque that was titled "A Doctor's Prayer". I sent it to her in the mail and she called me the next day thanking me, even sent me a ty card a few days later. Not many doctors do what she does....taking the time to listen to a patient's fears, concerns, etc.

 

[DustyKat]

Tipping is not a common practice in Australia and is not expected in any industry.

In hospitals if a patient is grateful for the care received then gratuities normally consist of thank you cards, chocolates, flowers, that sort of thing for the whole staff or a donation to a specific ward in the form of a cheque, equipment or say a framed picture. In hospitals individual gifts are not allowed as it would fall under the code of conduct rules.

In a doctors surgery I know individual gifts are sometimes given to staff or the doctor but since they are privately owned I imagine it would be up to the discretion of the owner of the business as to what was allowed and what wasn't.

Dusty.

 

[alex_chris]

It's rather common in Germany, Switzerland and Austria to tip after having been admitted stationary at a hospital. Very often they take the tip and put it in the station's money jar (for coffee, food etc.).

Tipping docs would be awkward, though.

 

[valleysangel92]

After my surgery, I had my parents bring in a big tub of chocolates for the nurses on my ward, (on the day I was going home) they took very good care of me and we wanted to say thankyou, the nurse I gave them to was delighted and gave me a big (gentle) hug, she assured me that everyone would get some and that it was very nice to feel appreciated.

At my follow up appointment with my surgeon, I took him a card and a cheapish bottle of wine, he was delighted, but I got the impression he didn't get gifts often as he was very surprised. We felt it important to thank him as he was very good with me, he operated on a non surgery day to get me seen and he came to see me 2-3 times every day, he also made a point of allowing my parents into the ward as soon as I was back and he made a point of coming to chat to my mum later in the week to tell her how everything went.

I think it depends on the type of gift and the timing, if it is small and relatively inexpensive and it is given at the end of a hospital stay or at an appointment after the treatment has ended then there is usually no issue with a small gift. We were told at college and uni that it was fine to accept small gifts, especially things like chocolate that could be shared, but nothing personal like jewelry or perfume ( I did health and social care in college and started a nursing degree at uni) .

 

[SarahBear]

Tipping a doctor just sounds ridiculous.

You're already paying out the ass for their services, and they make significantly more than almost all of their patients anyway. It sounds absurd to me. Considering that and the probable codes against accepting it, I'd probably be switching doctors if my doctor did accept a tip.

As for nurses, there are other, less weird ways to show appreciation, as valleysangel described.

A simple, "Thank you," and a compliant attitude should suffice.

 

[nitty]

It's a long time since I was nursing in the UK, but back then it was always appreciated if patients wanted to say thank you with some chocolates/biscuits, and a thoughtfully written card could say a bigger thank you than any tip.
We were not allowed to accept any sort of monetary gift, and on the odd occasion that somebody wanted to do this the ward manager encouraged them to make this as a formal donation to the specialist unit that we were part of.
If a patient insisted on giving a particular staff member a gift that was of any real value I believe that it must be declared to management and/or the taxman (although I'm not entirely certain about that as I was never in that position!!).

 

[hawkeye]

I think thank you cards, flowers / chocolates for the nursing staff are common "thank you gifts" here

 

[Jennifer]

The cost of treatment is ridiculous so there's no way anyone should tip 10-20% depending on the quality of service which is common when tipping a waiter/waitress. Generally we tip people in the service industry because they're already receiving poor pay and they rely on tips just to get by. If they had a proper wage then I don't believe tipping is necessary at all (personal opinion, tipping people in the service industry is its own debate).

I don't see gifts being the same as tipping. Tipping often feels expected while gifts are not (however children often expect gifts) so I don't see anything wrong with sending your doctor or staff a card, flowers or whatever as a thank you.

Also keep in mind that we can choose when to go out to eat or deal with another service that generally "requires" (in quotes because its an unwritten law, otherwise people spit in your food) tipping but we can't choose when we get sick. If we had to tip them we'd all be broke.

I used to bring my old GP a flower sometimes when I was a child (just picked it out from the flowers that surround the parking lot). Haven't given a doctor a gift since then and don't plan to unless I had money to throw around but I don't.

 

[nogutsnoglory]

Doctors and surgeons definitely make a lot of money but nurses and hospital staff make regular wages. I don't think it can be a percentage nor should it be but anyways I'm more in line with a gift over money. I think a box of chocolate for all the nurses on the floor is a nice thing to do.

I agree that the people we tip on average seem to have poor salaries.

 

[afidz]

nurses get paid pretty well. No where near what doctors make, ovviously. But they make quite a bit of money.
Honestly, I would be offended if I was a doctor or nurse and someone tipped me. I don't think it should go any further than flowers or chocolates or whatever
And on another note, if a doctor or nurse accepts a tip, I would be questioning their ethics.

 

[LNS87]

As a nurse, we are not allowed to accept tips or gifts. However, on my unit we often have patients who bring us food/chocolate or write thank you cards and we always love that as it makes us feel appreciated and that you are getting good care. Nursing is hard work, and the best thing about my job is just hearing a patient say "thank you, you have taken great care of me." It makes my day every time!

 

[fozheart]

I agree with a nice card or note. This is irrelevant, but last year when I was taken FREE to Mayo Clinic, (2 different planes and pilots), I made them both a big batch of chocolate chip cookies, and decorated the boxes. This was the Angel Flight Program- they fly sick people for free in their private jets and even little 4 seater planes! They really liked the cookies, because they were homemade, and it was cute- they were munching on them during the flight! Hmm...turning the tables a bit, wouldn't it be something if we got a tn for being such good patients? haha...just trying to lighten my mood tonight.

 

[steve-H]

I wish I had seen a doctor worth tipping

 

[fozheart]

You've got a point there- back to reality.