Gifts and Donations Policy

 This policy sets out Ashley Centre Surgery’s approach to the acceptance and handling of gifts and / or donations to both the practice or to individual partners and staff by patients, and follows BMA Guidance on accepting gifts from patients updated June 2024.

The requirement to register gifts is contained within the Health and Social Care Act 2001. Under the General Medical Services contract GPs are obliged to declare any gift from a patient worth more than £100.   GPs and individual members of staff may retain personal non-cash gifts made by patients which are of a trivial nature – guide value up to £25.00.  Primary Care Organisations can request sight of Gift Registers, which must contain specified information.

This policy applies to gifts from patients, relatives of patients or from any person who provides services to the practice or its patients in connection with the medical services contract.

The value of multiple gifts received from an individual patient will be monitored to ensure that at all times the acceptance of them is both prudent and reasonable.

In accordance with General Medical Council guidelines partners and staff should be aware of the following provisions:

• The requirement to be open and honest in any financial dealings with patients
• That patients must not be encouraged to give, lend or bequeath money or gifts
• That pressure must not be placed on patients or relatives to make donations to people or organisations
• That they must not ask for or accept inducements, gifts or hospitality which may be seen to effect judgements, nor should these be offered to colleagues.

The policy of this practice is that all gifts or donations with a guide value over £25.00, from patients, whether in cash or in goods, and made to the practice, its partners, or its staff are to be declared and entered into the Gifts Register.

Gifts to Individuals

• GPs are not permitted to accept personal cash gifts of any amount
• GPs and individual members of staff may retain personal non-cash gifts made by patients which are of a trivial nature – guide value up to £25.00.
• Personal non-cash gifts in excess of the guide value made to an individual should be politely refused.
• Cash gifts offered to individuals should be declined.

Gifts to Specific Staff Groups

• Gifts made to a particular group of staff (e.g. receptionists) may be accepted up to a guide value of £100. This gift will be used for the benefit of that specific staff group but not directly distributed amongst them. The Register entry will reflect a group distribution. This may include cash gifts which will be used to the benefit of the staff group.
• Gifts in excess of the guide value should be politely refused. Where this is a cash gift this may be accepted up to the value limit, with the balance (if the patient agrees) to a charity selected by the staff group.
• Gifts to the Practice
• Gifts may be accepted up to a guide value of £100. This gift will be used for the benefit of the staff within the practice, but not be directly distributed.
• Gifts in excess of the guide value should be politely refused. Where this is a cash gift this may be accepted up to the value limit with the balance (if the patient agrees) to a charity selected by the staff.

Christmas Gifts

The general provisions outlined above will apply. Where the nature of the gift falls outside the limits above they should be referred to the Practice Manager who will determine the correct course of action.