A COUNCIL has been accused of being small-minded for not allowing nursing home staff to accept gifts from grateful residents.

Darlington man James Hutchinson says that he regularly used to give a box of sweets and biscuits to carers working at the town's Gladstone Hall nursing home.

He said the gift was a just a small token of appreciation for those who look after his 96-year-old mother.

But, just before Christmas, he was informed that individual members of staff could no longer accept the gift.

Mr Hutchinson is angry as Gladstone Hall is due to close shortly and he feels the people who care for his mother should not be deprived of such gifts.

He said: "This directive had come from our caring council who are obviously not content with the home closures and staff redundancies."

"They are now determined to deprive the carers of anything but a verbal thank you."

Mr Hutchinson's comments follow similar accusations by carers at other nursing homes, where staff claim they have been told to refuse gifts.

Colin Morris, director of social services at Darlington Borough Council, said there has been a misunderstanding over the giving of gifts.

"Particularly at this time of year members of staff, especially those working in care homes, are frequently offered gifts from relatives of residents as a way of saying 'thank you' for the care they have received throughout the year," he said.

"The department operates a policy of recording gifts, in order to protect staff from any accusations of bribery or accepting gifts in return for favours.

"However, the department also adopts a common sense approach in that gifts such as boxes of chocolates can be accepted by staff if the gift is made freely available to all members of staff and residents in the home.

"Gifts of alcohol cannot be accepted as the council operates a 'no alcohol at work policy'."