What does the guidance say?

As well as its main guidance Good medical practice, the GMC has published specific advice on gifts and conflicts of interest, which states that if you do receive a gift or bequest from a patient or relative, you should consider any potential damage accepting the gift could cause to the patient's trust, and to the public's trust in the profession.

In England, the General Medical Services contract stipulates that GPs who are given gifts worth £100 or more must enter these onto a register. Equivalent sets of regulations are in place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

NHS England's recently published guidance on managing conflicts of interest, which came into effect on 1 June 2017, advises that gifts valued over £50 should be treated with caution, and should only be accepted on behalf of an organisation, and not by individual NHS staff. They should also be declared.

Offers of hospitality should only accepted if there is a legitimate business reason, for example attending or speaking at a professional conference.

It's also important for students and qualified doctors to keep a record of any gifts they receive for their appraisal and revalidation. Keep any thank you letters and other tokens of appreciation, as this provides valuable colleague and patient feedback.

Can I accept gifts from patients?

Can I accept gifts from patients?