Gifts and gratuities

You may be offered gifts, favours or hospitality from people in your care during the course of, or after a period of care or treatment.

The code states:

"You must refuse any gifts, favours or hospitality that might be interpreted as an attempt to gain preferential treatment”

Nurses and midwives can receive gifts or favours from people they care for but must be confident that the giving of these gifts could not be interpreted as being in return for preferential treatment. Nurses and midwives are also reminded, when deciding whether or not to accept a gift or favour, to consult local policy. Failure to do so could result in them being in breach of their terms and conditions of employment.

This information was updated May 2012.

Further information

The code: Standards of conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwives [PDF]
Regulation in Practice

Created date :: 11/06/2012
Modified date :: 29/06/2012